£<* 


^  Q  r 

U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE.  "'  °^r'*^ 


BDREAD  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY  -BULLETIN  NO 


N-0 


1!.  T.  SALLOW  W  <  hiej  o/  Bureau. 


TILE  SEEDS  OF  THE  BU'KGRAS 


f.  THE  GERMINATION,  GROWEfG,  HANDLING,  AND  ADULTERATION 

OF  BLUEGRASS  SEEDS. 

By  Edgar  Brown,  Botanist  in  Chargt  of  Seed  Laboratory. 

11.  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  SEEDS  OF  THE  COMMERCIAL  BLUEGRASSES 

AND  TIIK1K  IMPURITIES. 

By  F.   II.   Hillman,  Amslant  Botahist,  Seed  Laboratory. 


[881  ED    NOVEMBER    14,   1905. 

/  OF  FL  LIB. 
DOCUMENTS  DEPT. 

::.::-:-.: 

i^BMHlMy 

eposh 

WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 

1  905. 


BULLETINS  OF  THE  BUREAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY. 

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[Continued  on  page  3  of  cover.l 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT   OF  AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY     BULLETIN  NO.  84. 

li.  T.  GALLOWAY,  Chitf  oj  But 


Til  K. SHEDS  OF  THE  BLUEGRASSES. 


I.  Till'.  GERMINATION,  GROWING,  HANDLING,  AND  ADULTERATION 
OF  HI. I  EGRASS  SEEDS. 

By    Edqak  Brown,  Botanistin  <'lt'irij<  of  Seed  Laboratory. 

II.  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  SEEDS  OF  THE  COMMERCIAL  BLUEGRASSES 
AND  THEIR  IMPURITIES. 

By  !•'.   II.   IIii.i.man,  Assistant  Botanist,  Seed  Laboratory. 


Lssi  ed  November  14,  1905. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE, 

1  !» 1 1  ;, . 


BUREAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY. 

B.  T.  GALLOWAY, 
Pathologist  and  Physiologist,  and  Chief  of  Bureau. 

VEGETABLE  PATHOLOGICAL  AND  PHYSIOLOGICAL   INVESTIGATIONS. 

Albert  F.  Woods,  Pathologist  and  Physiologist  in  Charge,  Acting  Chief  of 

Bureau  in  Abst  nee  of  Chief. 

]•><  >TANICAL  INVESTK  iATK  >NS. 
Fkederick  V.  Coville,  Botanist  in  Charge. 

FARM  MANAGEMENT. 
W.  J.  Spillman,  Agriculturist  in  Charge. 

POMOLOGICAL  INVESTIGATIONS. 
G.  B.  Brackett,  Pomologist  in  Charge. 

SEED  AND  PLANT  INTRODUCTION  AND  DISTRIBUTION. 
A.  J.  Pieters,  Botanist  in  Charge. 

ARLINGTON  EXPERIMENTAL  FARM. 
L.  C.  Corbett,  Horticulturist  in  Charge. 

INVESTIGATIONS  IN  THE  AGRICULTURAL  ECONOMY  OF  TROPICAL  AND 

SUBTROPICAL  PLANTS. 

<  >.  F.  Cook,  Bionomist  in  Charge. 

DRUG  AND  POISONOUS  PLANT   INVESTIGATIONS.   AND  TEA  CULTURE 

INVESTIGATIONS. 
Rodney  H.  True,  Physiologist  in  Charge. 

DRY  LAND  AGRICULTURE  AND  WESTERN  AGRICULTURAL  EXTENSION. 
Carl  S.  Scofield,  Agriculturist  in  Charge. 

EXPERIMENTAL  GARDENS  AND  GROUNDS. 
E.  M.  Byrnes,  Superintendent. 

SEED  LABORATORY. 
Edgar  Brown,  Botanist  in  Charge. 


J.  E.  Rockwell.  Editor. 
James  E.Jones,  Chief  Clerk. 


SEED  LABORATORY. 

SCIENTIFIC   STAFF. 

Edgar  Brown,  Botanist  in  Charge. 
F.  H.  Hillman,  Assistant  Botanist.  J.  W.  T.  Duvel,  Assistant. 

2 


'RANSMITTAL 


l'.    8.    I  >!   I'  \i;  IMI   N  I     i  >l      Ai.KH'1    III    R]   . 

1W  re \i    <>i    Plant  Imh  stri  . 

(  )lTI<  1.    <>!'    THE    (  'llll'.F. 

Washington,  />.  <\.  July  /■'>.  I  nor,. 

Sir:   I   have  the  honor  to  transmit   herewith  and  to  recommend  for 
publication  a-  Bulletin  No.  sl  of  the  series  of  this  Bureau  the  accom 
panying  technical  paper  entitled  "The  Seeds  of  the  Bluegrasses." 

This  paper  was  prepared  by  Mr.  Edgar  Bi'own,  Botanist  in  Charge 
of  the  Seed  Laboratory,  and  Mr.  F.  11.  biillman,  Assistant  Botanist, 
Seed   Laboratory,  and  has  been  submitted  with  a  view  to  publication. 

The  bluegrasses  are  among  the  mosl    important    forage  plants  in 
many  sections  of  the  United  State- and  Europe,  and  large  quantities 
nf  seed  are  harvested  annually  for  use  in  (hi-  country  and   for  expor 
tat  ion. 

The  process  of  cleaning  the  seed  of  the  bluegrasses  for  market  is 
such  that  many  of  the  distinguishing  characters  are  lost,  and  separate 
descriptions  are  necessary  for  the  hand-picked  and  commercial  seed  of 
the  same  species. 

The  seeds  of  the  differenl  commercial  species  are  so  nearly  alike  in 
general  appearance  that  at  present  none  hut  the  trained  observer  can 
distinguish  between  them.  This  similarity  of  appearance  has  encour- 
aged the  use  of  the  cheaper  and  less  desirable  species,  especially 
Canada  bluegrass,  for  the  adulteration  of  or  substitution  for  the  more 
expensh  e  species. 

The  descriptions  and  illustrations  herewith  given  of  the  bluegrasses 
and  of  their  impurities  will  be  of  great  value  in  furnishing  seedsmen 
the  necessary  information  to  enable  them  to  distinguish  the  different 
species. 

The  accompany  ing  illustrations  are  necessary   for  a  complete  under 
standing  of  t  he  text. 

Respect  fully,  B.  T.  ( i  \i.ii  >\\  at, 

( 'hiefqf  Bui\  an. 

1  Ion.  .1  \mi>   Wils< IN, 

Si  •  /■-  tary  of  .  Vgricultun  . 

3 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/bluegrassOOunit 


CONTENTS. 


I.  Tin    Germination,  Growing,    Handling,    \m>  Adulteration  of    Bi.i'k- 

ghass  Seeds.     By  Edgar  Brown •  ' 

I  (escriptii  m  ni  commercial  and  hand-gathered  seeds 9 

Grades  and  quality  of  commercial  seeds 10 

Adulteration I" 

Weight  per  bushel II 

i  termination 12 

Growing  and  handling 12 

/'  a  prati  nsis  |  Kentucky  bluegrass       12 

Poa  compressa  (Canada  bluegrass)  13 

/•,„,  irivialis  i  rough-stalked  meadow  grass  i 13 

Poa  a,  moralis  .  \\ I  mead<  >\\  grass  i 13 

Poa  triflora  (fowl  meadow  grass) 13 

{'mi  araehnift  ra  I  Texas  bluegrass) It 

I'mi  annua  (annual  bluegrass ) 14 

/',,./  nl in  an  (alpine  meadow  '_rra>s) 14 

I'mi  sudetica 11 

II.  Descriptions  oi   the  Seeds  of  the  Commercial  Bluegrasses   ^nd  Their 

Impurities.     By  F.  11.  Hillman 15 

The  bluegrasses 15 

Key  i"  tin   seeds  of  Ihe  more  common  species  of  I'i>;i  as  found 

on  herbarium  specimens Is 

Key  to  commercial  bluegrass  seeds  a  tier  preparation  for  market. .  1!' 
Comparison  of   the  principal  distinguishing  characters  of  blue- 
grass  seeds 20 

Descriptions  of  species 22 

Poa  pratensis  1...  Kentucky  bluegrass,  June  grass 22 

Poa  compressa  L.,  Canada  bluegrass,  Hat-stemmed  bluegrass  24 

Poa  trivial  is  I..,  rough-stalked  meadow  grass 21 

Poa  nemorai 'is  L.,  wood  meadow  grass l'i; 

I'mi  triflora    Ehrh.    i /'.    flara    I...    /'.    serotina   Ehrh.),   fowl 

meadow  grass,  false  redtop 27 

I 'in  i  arachnifera  Tun-.,  Tex  a-  bluegrass 28 

r     >ni  a  a  n  I...  annua]  meadow  grass 2!> 

Poa  a!  pi  mi  L.,  alpine  meadow  grass  29 

Poa                 1 1  at  -like 30 

Panicularia  spp :;  1 

Panicularia  m  rvata  I  Willd. )  Kuntze,  nerved  manna  grass, 

s stimes  called  fowl  meadow  grass 3  1 

Pa   i ri i in rin  ■inn  i- 1,-, i mi  i  Tt  irr.  |  MacM.,  reed  meadow  '_'ra?-s. 

water  meadow  grass,  tall  manna  grass 31 

5 


6  CONTENTS. 

II.   Descriptions  op  the  Seeds  of  the  Commercial  Blueorasses  and  Their 

Impurities — ( Jontinued.  Page. 

Weed  seeds  commonly  found  with  commercial  bluegrass  seeds •">'_' 

Bursa  bursa-pastoris  (L.)  Britton,  shepherd' s-purse 32 

Lepidium  virginicum  I..,  peppergrass ..  32 

( i  rastium  vulgatum  L.,  mouse-ear  chickweed 32 

Alsine  media  I..,  ci nun  chickweed 32 

A /si  m  ■ 1 1  in  mi in  it  (L. )  Britton 33 

din  I  it  us  arvensis  (L.)  Robs.,  Canada  thistle 33 

Taraxacum  taraxacum  (L. )  Karst.,  dandelion 34 

Matricaria  inodora  I..,  scentless  camomile 34 

Hit  fin- in  in  sp.,  hawk  weed. 34 

An/In  inis  rotitln  L.,  dog  fennel,  mayweed 35 

Ckenopodium  album  L.,  lamh's-quarters,  pigweed 35 

Plantago  lanceolata    I...  rib-grass,  buckhorn,  English  plantain 35 

Rumex  crispus  L.,  curled  dock 36 

Rumex  acetosella  L.,  sheep's  sorrel,  sorrel 36 

Veronica  arvensis  1..,  corn  speedwell 36 

J  a  in- ns  tenuis  Willd.,  slender  rush 37 

Juncoides  campestre  (L. )  Kuntze,  lield  rush 37 

.1 n n mill \ s  albida  DC.,  wood  rush 37 

Carex  cephalophora  Muhl.,  oval-headed  sedge 37 

Ergot  occasionally  found  in  commercial  bluegrass  seed 38 

Claviceps purpurea  (Fr. )  Tul.,  ergot 38 


ILLUSTR  VTIOXS. 


TEXT    FIGURES. 


fage. 

1.  A.  spikelet  of  Poa 15 

2.  Unrubbed  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  |  Pou  pratt  wis  1 17 

:;.  Seeds  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  (  Poa  prah  nsis  | 18 

■i.   Differenl   forms  of   commercial   seeds  ni   Kentucky    bluegrass 

pratensis ) 22 

■">.  Commercial  seeds  of  Canada  bluegrass  (Poa  compressa) 21 

0.  Seeds  of  rough-stalked  meadow  grass  I  Poa  trivialis) 25 

7    Seeds  of  wood  meadow  grass  1  Poa  nemoralis) 2<i 

B    Seeds  of  fowl  meadow  grass  (  Poa  trijlora  1 27 

9    Seeds  of  Texas  bluegrass  \  Poa  arachnifera  ) 28 

It).   A.  cluster  of  Texas  bluegrass  see. Is  matted  by  the  webby  libers 29 

II.  Seeds  of  annual  meadow  grass  (Poa  annua) 29 

12    Seeds  of  alpine  meadow  grass  1  Poa  alpina  1.. 30 

13.  Seeds  of  Poa  mdetica 30 

1    Seeds  of  nerved  manna  grass  1  Panicularia  m  rvata  ) 31 

L5    Seeds  of  water  meadow  grass  |  Panicularia  < nun-inn, a  j :;i 

It;.   Seeds  dt'  shepherd's-purse  |  Bursa  bursa-pastoris) 32 

17.  Seeds  of  peppergrass  |  Lepidium  virginicum  ) 32 

-    Si  eds  of  mouse-ear  chickweed  ( ( 'erastium  rulgatum  1 32 

19.  Seeds  of  chick  weeds  i  Almie  media  and  .1.  graminea  ) :;:; 

20.  Seeds  of  Canada  thistle.!  (  urduus  arvensis) 33 

21.  Prickles  often  found  with  bluegrass  seed 33 

22.  Seeds  of  dandelion  I  Taraxacum  taraxacum  ) :M 

23.  Seeds  of  scentless  ca nile  I  Matricaria  inodora  ) :!4 

24.  Seeds  of  bawkweed  ( Hit  racium  sp. ) * :;i 

25    Seeds  of  dog  fennel      Inthemis  cotula  1 35 

1'ii.  Seeds  ut'  lamb's-quarters  |  Chenopodium  allium  1 :5."> 

L'7.  Seeds  of  rib-grase     Plantago  lanceolata  1. .",."> 

28  Seeds  of  curled  dock  (  Rumex  crispus) :>(> 

29  Seeds  of  sun-el  >  l:                             :St; 

30.  Seeds  of  corn  speedwell  l  Veronica  ai                  36 

:il     Seeds  uf  slender  rush  (Junrus  tenuis) :;7 

.-.Is  of  field  rush  >  Juncoides  ca                 M7 

eds  of  wood  rush  I  Juncoides  alhida  1 37 

'A    Seeds  of  sedge  ( ( 'arex  cephalophora) 38 

35.   Ei                  ceps purpurea)  of  Kentucky  bluegrass 38 

7 


B,  P    t.— 176. 


THE  SEEDS  OF  THE  BLUEGRASSES. 


IK  GERMINATION,  CROW  INC.  HANDLING,  AND 
ADULTERATION  OF  BLUEGRASS  SEEDS. 

By  Edg  \ r   I Iri i\\  v 
Botanist  in  Chargi  of  Seed  Laboratory. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  COMMERCIAL  AND  HAND-GATHERED  SEEDS. 

Great  difficulty  is  experienced  in  distinguishing  the  seeds  of  the 
species  of  Poa.  It  is  especially  importanl  to  be  able  to  recognize 
them.  a>  the  species  vary  greatlj  in  value  and  th<  seed  of  one  species 
is  frequently  substituted  for  that  of  another. 

The  descriptions  of  the  seeds  of  Poa  already  published  have  been 
largely  those  of  complete  or  hand-gathered  specimens.  Bui  the  seeds 
of  some  kinds  as  they  appear  <»n  the  market  are  more  or  less  broken 
and  have  losl  many  of  their  distinguishing  characters.  The  process 
of  cleaning  often  rubs  off  the  web  at  the  base  of  the  seed  and  the 
bairs  along  the  sides  and  breaks  the  tip.  On  this  account  descriptions 
based  <>n  specimens  of  perfect  -reds  are  not  to  be  relied  upon  in 
identifying  certain  commercial  Poas. 

The  mutilation  of  seeds  during  the  process  of  cleaning  is  especially 
marked  in  home-grown  seed  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  {Poa  pratensis). 
Even  tin'  hand-gathered  seed  of  rough-stalked  meadow  grass  {Poa 
trivialis)\s  frequently  so  much  injured  about  the  slender  apex  as  to 
Increase  greatlj  the  difficult}  of  distinguishing  il  from  that  of  Ken 
tuck\  bluegrass.  On  the  other  hand,  the  commercial  seeds  of  wood 
meadow  Lira--  (/'"'//-///'//''///.viand  fowl  meadow  grass  {Poa  triflora) 
retain  much  of  the  pubescence  on  the  glume,  often  the  web,  and  are 
usually  not  broken  on  the  tip. 

It  i-  important  that  descriptions  and  illustrations  to  be  used  in  prac- 
tical -eed  testing  be  taken  from  the  commercial  as  well  as  hand- 
gathered  seed  and  be  comparative  in  character.  Those  given  in  this 
paper  have  been  prepared  from  both  hand-gathered  and  commercial 
-eed.     The  term  seed  is  here  used  in  it-  popular  sense. 

5813— NO.  84—05 2  9 


10  THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 

GRADES  AND  QUALITY  OF  COMMERCIAL  SEEDS. 

The  seeds  of  all  species  except  Kentucky  bluegrass  are  known  to  the 
American  trade  in  only  one  grade.  This  is  the  so-called  ••fancy" 
grade,  which  is  based  on  relative  cleanness  and  on  the  bright  appear- 
ance of  the  seed.  The  quality  of  different  samples  passing  under  this 
grade  name  is  not  necessarily  uniform,  but  among  the  more  careful 
dealers  a  purity  standard  of  from  80  to  90  per  cent  is  usually  maintained. 

The  seeds  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  and  of  Canada  bluegrass  raised  in 
this  country  arc  usually  much  cleaner  and  freer  from  foreign  seeds 
than  the  European-grown  seeds  of  rough-stalked  meadow  grass,  wood 
meadow  grass,  and  fowl  meadow  grass. 

Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  is  commonly  offered  in  two  grades — 
"fancy,"  and  '•extra-clean "  or  "extra-cleaned."  The  latter  names  are 
a  survival  of  the  time  when  the  seed  was  hand  cleaned  and  the  "extra- 
clean  "  was  the  best  seed  on  the  market.  With  the  advent  of  improved 
machinery  the  ''fancy"  grade  was  established  and  it  is  now  the  only 
grade  generally  accepted  by  the  intelligent  purchaser.  The  "extra- 
clean"  still  on  the  market  belies  its  name,  .since  it  consists  of  the  chaff 
or  cleanings  from  the  fancy  seed,  and  consequently  contains  only  light 
seed.  Samples  of  "extra-cleaned"  as  offered  usually  contain  less  than 
10  per  cent  of  seed. 

In  some  cases  the  growers  rind  a  sale  for  the  rough  or  uncleaned 
seed  after  it  has  been  passed  through  a  feed  cutter.  In  this  condition 
it  has  very  much  the  appearance  of  fine-cut  straw  with  a  large  per- 
centage of  chaff,  and  can  be  scattered  over  pastures  and  other  areas, 
seeding  them  as  effectually  as  could  be  done  by  the  use  of  fancy 
reclcaned  seed.  If  well  cured,  the  germinating  quality  of  such  seed 
is  excellent,  and  the  mass  contains  from  60  to  7»>  per  cent  of  pure  seed. 
Except  for  foreign  trade  the  percentage  of  germination  has  lit  tie  to  do 
with  the  price  and  grade  of  bluegrass  seed. 

Aside  from  adulterated  samples  the  purity  of  "fancy"  seed  of  all 
species  of  bluegrass  is  usually  good.  Of  the  2,887  samples  of  Ken- 
tucky bluegrass  tested  by  the  Zurich  Seed  Control  Station  from  1876 
to  L903  the  average  purity  was  86.3  percent.  Of  the  tilt  samples 
tested  in  the  Seed  Laboratory  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
dining  the  past  year  the  average  purity  was  7r>.o-2  per  cent. 

ADULTERATION. 

The  seed  of  Canada  bluegrass  (/'<></  compressa)  is  the  only  kind 
used  as  an  adulterant  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  in  tins  country.  During 
the  year  1.904  649,451  pounds  of  Canada  bluegrass  seed  were  imported 
from  Canada,  practically  none  of  which  is  being  sold  under  its  true 
name.  Among  the  samples  of  seed  sold  for  Kentucky  bluegrass  and 
sent  to  the  Seed  Laboratory  for  examination  a   large   number   have 


WEIGHT    PER    lU'SHi  |..  1  1 

contained  from  30  to  50  per  cent  of  Canada  bluegrass  seed  and  several 
have  been  entirely  composed  of  the  Canada  seed. 

li  is  significant  in  this  connection  thai  tli<'  price  of  Canada  bluegrass 
seed  varies  with  thai  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed,  being  usually  aboul 
one-half  that  of  the  latter.  This  adulteration  is  not  merely  a  simple 
fraud  by  which  the  farmer  pays  for  what  he  does  not  get,  but  the 
difference  in  the  resulting  pasture  or  hay  crop  is  very  important. 
Canada  bluegrass,  while  having  many  good  qualities  in  common  with 
other  species  of  Poa,  is  by  no  means  a  pasl  ure  grass,  for  which  purpose 
Kentucky  bluegrass  is  unexcelled. 

The  seed  of  wood  meadow  grass  (  Poa  h<  moral  in)  is  sometimes  ad  id 
i eiated  with  other  species  of  Poa,  and  samples  have  been  offered  under 
this  name  that  contain  no  wood  meadow  grass  srvil.  One  sample  tested 
in  the  Seed  Laboratory  contained  59.4  percent  of  Poa  prat  en  nix  and 
•2'.\  per  cent  of  Poa  compreasa,  the  remainder  being  chaff  and  dirt. 
Samples  of  fowl  meadow  grass  (Poa  trifiord)  have  been  examined 
which  consisted  largelj  of  various  common  grass  and  clover  seeds 
combined  with  an  abundance  of  weed  seeds.  These  samples  contained 
small  quantities  of  Kentucky  and  Canada  bluegrass  seeds,  much  chaff 
and  dirt,  and  some  of  them  no  seeds  of  fowl  meadow  grass. 

The  seed  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  is  used  to  adulterate  that  of  the 
higher  priced  Poa  trivially  pure  seed  of  the  latter  species  usually 
being  hard  to  obtain.  Some  of  the  German  authorities  say  thai  it  is 
necessary  for  every  farmer  to  save  his  own  seed  of  this  grass  in  order 
to  be  sure  that  it  is  pure.     Hunter"  says: 

Previously  to  1883  g I  and  genuine  seed  of  this  specie-    Poa  (ririalis)  could  nol 

be  obtained  in  this  country  [England].     Seed  of  the  Poa  pratensis  was  commonly 
supplied  for  it.     It  is  now  less  difficult  to  procure  genuine  seel,  but   large  quantities 
;  of  Poapratensis  (which  usualh  costs  about  one-third  the  price)  are  prepared 
3i  nihlc  and  arc  sold  for  Poa  tririalis,  and  ii  is  only  by  careful  microscopic  exam- 
ination that  the  nature  of  the  seed  can  be  determined 

WEIGHT    PER    BUSHEL. 

The  standard  weighl  of  a  bushel  of  bluegrass  seed  of  any  grade  is  1-1 
pounds.  The  actual  w  eight,  however,  varies  from  6  to  8  pounds  in  the 
case  of  ''extra  cleaned"  to  27  pounds  or  more  for  especiall}  good  sam- 
ples of  fanc\  recleaned  seed.  In  the  bluegrass  region  of  Kentucky  it  is 
the  usual  practice  to  sell  the  seed  fresh  from  the  strippers  or  cured  in 
the  chaff  l>\  the  bushel  of  II  pounds,  bul  it  is  always  weighed,  nol 
measured.  The  cleaned  seed  is  always  sold  by  the  pound.  As  the 
weighl  per  bushel  of  bluegrass  seed  depends  directly  on  its  purity. 
it  is  customary  in  quoting  the  price  of  "fancy'1  seed  to  accompany  it 
with  a  statement  as  to  the  weighl  per  bushel. 


rreatise  on  Permanent  Lines  Hunter.     Chester,  England,  1901. 


12  THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 

The  foreign  trade  is  much  more  critical  than  the  domestic  trade,  and 
the  seed  exported  usually  weighs  from  22  to  24  pounds  per  bushel, 
while  the  domestic  trade  is  content  with  seed  weighing  from  18  to  20 
pounds.  The  heavier  seed  costs  more  per  pound  than  the  lighter  seed, 
since  there  is  more  labor  in  its  preparation,  but  it  is  cheaper  for  the 
purchaser. 

GERMINATION. 

The  germination  of  commercial  bluegrass  seed  is  often  poor.  At 
the  Zurich  Seed  Control  Station  the  average  percentage  from  3.< >♦'»<♦ 
samples  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  tested  from  1876  to  1904  was  65 
per  cent,  while  90s  samples  of  Poa  trivialis  tested  showed  an  average 
of  72  per  cent.  The  quality  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  as  respects 
germination  appears,  however,  to  be  improving.  Last  year's  tests  at 
the  Zurich  station  gave  an  average  of  68  per  cent,  while  a  few  years 
ago  50  per  cent  was  considered  fair  or  satisfactory.  Only  the  best 
seed  goes  to  Europe,  and  consequently  the  percentage  of  germination 
of  that  ottered  in  this  country  is  low.  As  carefully  cured  seed  will 
germinate  from  80  to  90  per  cent,  the  cause  for  the  poor  quality  of 
commercial  seed  is  doubtless  to  be  found  in  the  way  it  is  harvested  and 
cured."  The  usual  process  is  to  pile  the  freshly  stripped  seed  in  ricks, 
either  outdoors  or  in  barns.  This  mass  heats  quickly  if  not  stirred 
often  during  the  first  few  days.  One  pile  left  without  stirring  reached 
a  temperature  of  140c  F.  in  sixteen  hours,  killing  all  the  seed. 

GROWING    AND    HANDLING. 

With  the  exception  of  our  native  western  species,  more  or  less  seed 
of  all  the  commercial  Poas  is  gathered  in  Europe,  where  the\r  are 
found  wild.  The  harvesting  is  done  by  hand  from  the  natural  mead- 
ows, woods,  or  other  uncultivated  areas.  The  seed  is  cleaned  by  hand 
and  carried  to  market  in  small  quantities  and  collected  by  dealers  who 
supply  the  trade.  The  United  States  furnishes  Europe  with  Kentucky 
bluegrass  seed,  and  Europe  furnishes  the  seed  of  rough-stalked  meadow 
grass  and  wood  meadow  grass,  as  well  as  of  the  other  commercial 
species  of  Poa  used  in  this  country. 

Poa  pratensis  (Kentucky  bluegrass). — The  bulk  of  the  Kentucky 
bluegrass  seed  comes  from  a  limited  area  known  as  the  bluegrass 
region  of  Kentucky.  The  counties  of  Bourbon,  Scott,  Fayette,  Clark, 
and  Woodford  furnish  most  of  it,  although  there  is  a  small  quantity 
saved  in  Shelby  County.  Some  is  harvested  in  southwestern  Illinois, 
and  there  is  another  area  on  the  border  between  Missouri  and  Iowa 
where  a  considerable  amount  of  ^hh\  is  saved.  The.  seed  is  gathered 
from  the  natural  woodland  pastures  as  well  as  from  those  where  it  has 


«See  Bulletin  No.  L9,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  "Kentucky  Bluegrass  Seed:   liar- 
Vesting,  Curing,  ami  Cleaning.'' 


GROWING    ANH    HANDLING.  13 

been  sown.  It  is  customary  to  graze  rattle  on  it  nearly  the  entire 
year,  a-*  thc\  do  not  materially  injure  the  crop  of  seed  if  they  are  kept 
out  for  two  or  three  weeks  immediately  before  gathering.  The  seed 
is  harvested  by  pulling  the  beads  <>ll  with  a  stripper,  the  grass  not 
being  cut  for  hay.  The  cleaning  is  a  rather  difficult  process,  as  it  is 
necessary  to  rub  the  heads  thoroughly  in  order  to  separate  the  seed 
from  the  web  at  the  base.  The  last  of  the  chaff  and  dirt  which  i- 
blown  <  nit  1 1  mill',:'  tin-  cleaning  process  is  -oh  I  a-  "ext  ra-cleaned  "  seed. 

Poa  compressa  (Canada  bluegrass).  The  seed  of  Canada  bluegrass 
is  mostly  produced  in  the  Province  of  Ontario,  along  the  north  shore 
of  the  eastern  half  of  Lake  Erie.  The  soil  is  a  heavy  clay  on  lime- 
stone. In  this  section  Canada  bluegrass  is  not  sown,  hut  appears  as  a 
volunteer  in  any  fields  that  are  not  kept  under  cultivation,  making  a 
thick  growth  and  crowding  out  other  grasses  and  weeds.  It  is  nearly 
always  found  in  wheat  fields  when  the  wheat  crop  is  a  partial  failure. 
In  this  case  the  seed,  ripening  as  it  does  at  the  same  time  as  the 
wheat,  i-  thrashed  with  it  and  screened  out  in  cleaning.  Where  the 
seed  i-  harvested  alone  the  grass  is  (ait  with  a  mowing  machine  and 
cured  the  same  as  ordinary  hay.  and  afterwards  thrashed  with  a 
clover  huller  or  grain  separator.  The  hay  is  bright  green,  even  when 
not  cut  until  after  the  seed  is  ripe,  and  is  well  liked  by  some  farmers 
a-  feed,  while  it  is  considered  bard  and  of  little  value  by  others.  A 
good  crop  is  from  200  to  300  pounds  of  (dean  seed  per  acre.  There 
has  Keen  some  demand  for  this  seed  in  the  Southeastern  States  under 
the  name  of  Virginia  bluegrass.  The  seed  is  easily  cleaned,  as  it  is 
comparatively  free  from  wool  at  the  base  and  does  not  require  rub- 
bing, as  does  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed.  No  special  machinery  is  used 
except  rather  long  sieves  to  insure  sufficient  screening. 

Poa  trimalis  (rough  stalked  meadow  grass).  -The  wholesale  trade 
in  the  seed  of  rough-stalked  meadow  grass  is  largely  confined  to  the 
city  of  Hamburg,  Germany.  The  seed  is  collected  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  that  city  and  in  the  marshes  of  the  Elbe.  Seed  of  e-ood 
quality  is  also  supplied  from  Denmark,  where  in  one  locality  this 
grass  is  grown  especially  for  seed,  and  it  is  said  to  yield  as  much  as 

400  pounds  to  the  acre.     The  - I  is  stripped  or  the  grass  is  cut  and 

the  seed  allowed  to  after-ripen,  when  it  is  cleaned  by  hand. 

Poa  nemoralis  (wood  meadow  grass).-  The  seed  of  wood  meadow 
grass  is  gathered  by  hand  in  the  woods  of  Germany,  and  cleaned  in 
the  same  manner  as  is  the  seed  of  Poa  t  ri  ridl  is. 

Poa  tr'nln-'t  (fowl,  meadow  grass).  Though  widely  distributed 
throughout  the  northern  portion  of  the  United  States,  this  species  is 
chiefly  a  natural  meadow  grass  of  lowlands,  and  is  usually  SO  mixed 
with  sedges  and  other  grasses  that  seed  collection  on  a  commercial 

scale  ha-    not    thin    I  ai'  been  undertaken  in    this  Country.      The  seed  of 

this  species  on  the  market  comes  from   Europe  and  is  very  poor. 


14  THE    SEEDS    OF   THE    BLUEGRASSES. 

Prof.  L.  R.  Jones,  of  the  Vermont  Agricultural  Experiment  Station, 
reports  the  seed  production  from  a  nearly  pure  stand  of  this  grass  as 
amounting  to  6  bushels  of  lit  pounds  each  per  acre.  A  small  plat 
yielded  seed  at  the  rate  of  over  7  bushels  per  acre.  The  seed  is  pro- 
duced abundantly  and  ripens  evenly.  In  Vermont  it  is  harvested  in 
the  latter  part  of  July.  The  name  fowl  meadow  grass  is  often  applied 
to  another  lowland  grass,  Pa/nicularia  nervata. 

Pan  arachnifera  (Texas  bluegrass). — The  seed  of  Texas  bluegrass  is 
gathered  by  hand  in  northern  Texas.  It  is  cleaned  by  rubbing 
between  the  hands,  and,  owing  to  the  long,  woolly  hairs  at  the  base  of 
the  seed,  it  is  never  "fancy  clean."  The  best  seed  is  produced  on 
rich,  black,  waxy  soil,  and  is  ripe  about  May  1  to  15.  Only  a  small 
quantity  is  gathered  each  year,  and  consequently  it  is  high  priced  and 
can  not  be  considered  as  a  commercial  seed  at  the  present  time. 

Poa  annua  (annual  bluegrass). — The  seed  of  the  annual  bluegrass  is 
not  on  the  market  in  this  country,  though  the  plant  is  common  about 
dwellings,  especially  in  the  South  and  East,  and  ripens  its  seed 
throughout  the  summer.  The  seeds  do  not  ripen  evenly,  the  upper 
ones  falling  before  the  lower  flowers  have  opened.  The  seed  is 
gathered  and  used  to  some  extent  in  Europe. 

Poa  alpina  (alpine  meadow  grass). — Alpine  meadow  grass  is  best 
known  in  Switzerland,  where  the  seed  ripens  from  the  end  of  June  to 
the  middle  of  duly.  The  viviparous  form  can  be  propagated  by  scat- 
tering the  buds  during  the  hot  weather. 

Poa  sudetica. — The  seed  of  Poasudetica,  which  is  a  European  grass, 
is  rare  in  the  market,  but  is  occasionally  quoted  by  French  and  by 
German  firms.  It  is  sometimes  mixed  to  some  extent  with  the  seeds 
of  the  meadow  grasses,  particularly  water  meadow  grass  {Panicvlaria 
ami  ricana). 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  other  species  of  Poa  occur  in  the 
western  and  northwestern  United  States,  where  they  contribute  to 
the  native  forage  of  the  stock  ranges.  The  seeds  of  these  specie-.. 
however,  are  not  found  in  commerce. 


II.  DESCRIPTIONS   OF  THE  SEEDS  OF  Till.  COMMER- 
(1  \l.  HI. I  EGR  \SSES   VXD  THEIR  IMPURITIES. 

By  F.  II.  Iln  i  max, 
Assistant  Botanist,  Seed  Laboratory. 


THE  BLUEGBASSES. 

The  "seeds"  of  the  species  of  Poa,  or  the  bluegrasses,  are  the 
ripened  florets  or  individual  part-  of  the  smaller  clusters,  or  spikelets, 
of  the  general  floral  system  of  the  plant.  The  number  of  florets  in 
each  spikelet  varies  from  two  to  nine  in  the  different  "kinds  of  Poa 
cominonh  found  in  commerce.  There  i-  some  variation  in  the  num- 
ber of  florets  in  the  spikelets  of  each  species.  The  florets  separate 
readilj  at  maturity,  ami  well-cleaned  samples  of  seed  contain  few 
w  linlr  or  partial  spikelets. 

A  complete,  mature  -pikelet  embraces,  besides  it-  several  florets,  a 
pair  of  chaff}  scales,  termed  empty  glumes,  between  which  the  florets, 
oral   least  the  lower  ones,  rest.     The  empty  glumes,  while  somewhat 


I 


a 


i  [.—A  spikelet  of  Pou:  a,  stem  of  spikelet; />,  empty  ghinn  tl 

floret,  back  view:  a,  callus;  b,  keel;  c,  intermediate  veins;  r',  marginal  veins;  c,  hyaline  portion  oi 
uluiin'.     Ill  oret,  side  view:  a, callus;  h,  ruehilla  segment;  c,  keel;  '/.  intermediate  vein; 

e,  marginal  vein;  /,  margin  of  glume.     IV.    Single  ment:  b,  mur- 

ginalfold;  r.palea;  il.V  front  view:  ct, ruehilla  segment;  b,  a 

floret;  c,  palcu      \  I      Carj  opsis,  or  grail 

dissimilar,  are  keeled,  acute,  and  one  or  three  veined.  The  keel  of 
each  is  usuall}  hispid-ciliate  above  the  middle.  A  portion  of  the  stem 
of  the  spikelet  often  remains  attached  to  the  base  of  the  empty  glumes 
when  these  are  found  in  commercial  samples. 

Each  mature,  well-developed  floi'et  or  seed  consists  of  a  carvopsis, 
commonh  called  grain,  two  inclosing  scales  which,  together  with 
the  empty    glumes,   constitute  the  chaff,  and  a   -lender  appendage, 

t  he  rachilla  segment.     (  Fig.  1.) 

L5 


16  THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 

The  caryopsis  corresponds  to  an  individual  grain  in  wheat,  rye,  and 
barley,  and  consists  almost  entirely  of  the  seed  proper,  to  which  is 
added  only  the  thin  wall  of  the  seed  vessel.  This  is  intimately  blended 
with  the  seed  coat,  the  two  forming  the  covering  of  the  true  seed. 
The  caryopsis  is  spindle-shaped  and  of  ten  broadest  between  the  middle 
and  the  base.  It  is  often  bluntly  keeled  along  one  face  and  more  or 
less  evidently  grooved  along  the  opposite  face.  In  the  commercial 
bluegrass  seeds  the  grain  is  amber-colored  or  dull  wine-colored  and 
semitranslucent.  The  surface  is  finely  granular  and  dull.  The  kernel 
of  the  seed  forms  that  part  of  the  grain  within  the  seed  and  seed- 
vessel  walls.  It  consists  of  the  embryo  and  endosperm,  the  latter 
forming  the  greater  part.  The  embryo  is  situated  at  the  basal 
extremity  of  the  grain  and  is  evident  externally  as  a  small  ridge,  often 
within  a  slight  depression,  on  the  keeled  face.  The  grain  adheres 
along  its  grooved  face  to  the  palea  in  some  species  in  which  free  grains 
are  not  common  in  well -cleaned  commercial  seed. 

The  two  chaffy  scales  of  the  floret  differ  chiefly  in  size,  form,  rela- 
tive position,  venation,  and  texture.  The  larger  one,  called  the  flower- 
ing glume  or  simply  the  glume,  incloses  the  edges  of  the  other,  termed 
palea.  The  grain  rests  between  the  glume  and  palea,  its  keeled  face 
lying  against  the  glume.  The  rachilla  segment  is  at  the  base  of  the 
palea  and  opposite  the  glume.  It  is  one  of  the  articulating  sections  of 
the  rachilla,  or  axis  of  the  spikelet. 

The  characters  by  which  the  different  kinds  of  bluegrass  seeds  arc 
distinguished  one  from  another  are  afforded  by  the  glume,  palea,  and 
rachilla  segment,  and  involve  size,  form,  color,  veins  of  the  glume, 
form  and  texture  of  the  apex  of  the  glume,  and  the  pubescence. 

The  glume  is  stiffish  and  more  or  less  pointed  at  the  ends.  Its  base 
is  marked  by  the  presence  of  a  small,  somewhat  knob-like  appendage, 
the  callus.  The  latter  bears  the  scar  of  attachment  of  the  floret  and, 
in  certain  species,  a  more  or  less  pronounced  tuft  of  webby  hairs. 
The  back  of  the  glume  is  more  or  less  keeled  along  its  longitudinal 
center.  Besides  the  fold  forming  the  keel,  the  edges  of  the  glume  are 
infolded  along  the  marginal  veins.  The  marginal  folds  often  are  most 
pronounced  within  and  sometimes  are  confined  to  the  lower  half  of  the 
glume,  in  which  event  the  upper  margins  usually  diverge  and  become 
spreading  or  flaring  at  the  apex.  The  keel  is  strongly  arched  length- 
wise in  some  species  and  in  others  is  nearly  straight.  Five  veins 
traverse  the  glume  longitudinally;  one  occupies  the  keel,  two  are  at 
the  marginal  folds  and  are  termed  the  marginal  veins,  while  the  other 
two  are  situated  midway  between  the  keel  and  marginal  veins  and  are 
called  intermediate  or,  by  some  authors,  lateral  veins.  The  interme- 
diate veins  exhibit  considerable  variation  in  distinctness  in  the  differ- 
ent species.  The  vein  occupying  the  keel  extends  to  the  apex.  The 
apex  and  often  the  upper  part  of  the  lateral  margins  of  the  glume  in 


!  II  !      HI. I    EGR  ^SSES. 


17 


most  species  are  thin  and  translucent,  or  hyaline.  The  extent  of  the 
hyaline  portion  of  the  apex  has  much  to  do  with  the  form  of  the  latter 
and  is  variable  in  the  different  species. 

The  palea  i-  commonly  more  delicate  in  texture  than  the  glume, 
heing  partially  hyaline.  Il  usually  i-  shorter  than  the  glume,  hut  in 
some  species  equals  or  exceeds  ii  in  length.  The  difference  in  length 
usually  is  most  e\  ident  in  the  lower  florets  of  the  spikelet.  Tun  veins 
traverse  the  palea  lengthwise  and  nearly  meel  at  it-  apex.  The  mar- 
gins of  the  palea  are  more  or  less  acutely  infolded  alone'  these  veins, 
which  are  called  the  keels  of  the  palea.  The  keel- are  mostly  covered 
hy  the  glume  in  some  species,  while  in  others  the}  are  almost  wholly 
exposed.  There  i-  some  variation  in  this  respect,  however,  among 
seeds  of  the  -anie  species.      The  apex  of  the  palea  i-  often  notched. 

The  raehilla  segment  i-  nearly  cylindrical  and  usually  somewhat 
curved.  It  is  slightly  expanded  at  the  apex,  which  is  obliquely  trun- 
cate, it-  terminal  surface  constituting  the  -car  of  at- 
tachment to  the  succeeding  floret.  Different  florets  in 
the  -ante  spikelet  in  certain  species  exhibit  a  marked 
variation  in  the  length  of  the  raehilla  segment,  which 
i-  shortest  in  the  lower  florets  and  conspicuously 
longer  in  the  terminal  one.  where  it  usually  hear- an 
aborted  florel  a-  a  -mall,  pointed  appendage. 

The  surface  of  the  florets  of  different  species  of  Poa 
is  subject  to  considerable  variation.  Some  florets  are 
smooth,  or  glabrous;  others  bear  numerous  minute, 
stiffish  haii'-.  rendering  the  surface  rough,  or  scabrous: 
and  some  have  a  tine,  appressed  pubescence  covering 
a  part  of  the  surface.  Most  of  the  species  have  a 
more  or  less  silky  pubescence  on  the  keel  and  mar- 
ginal vein-  below  the  middle  or  somewhat  higher  on 
the  keel.  The  intermediate  veins  are  more  rarely 
pubescent.  The  keel-  of  the  palea  are  usually  fringed  with  minute 
hair-.  <>r  are  hispid-ciliate,  I»ut  in  some  species  the\  are  silky  pubes- 
cent. The  basal  web  is  wholly  wanting  in  some  species  and  in  others 
varies  from  a  few  libers  to  a  copious  tuft.  It  readily  separates  from 
the  florel  in  most  species.  The  raehilla  segment  i-  usually  smooth, 
but  in  some  species  it  i-  appressed  pubescent.  The  presence  of  the 
hair-  on  the  marginal  vein-  often  necessitates  that  care  lie  used  in 
examining  the  raehilla  segment  with  respect  t<>  pubescence.     (Fie-.  2.) 

The  color  of  mature  seeds  varies  from  verv  light  brown  to  dark 
brown.  Sterile  seeds  are  usually  lighter  or  -t  raw  colored.  Immature 
seeds  are  more  or  less  tinged  with  green;  some  are  purplish.  In  cer- 
tain species  the  glume  i-  tinged  with  golden  yellow  near  the  apex. 
The  aborted  terminal  floret  and  all  the  hairs  are  w  hite.  The  raehilla 
segment  i-  lighter  colored  than  the  glume  or  palea. 
\..  -. 


2.  —  ("nrubbed 
Kentucky    blue- 
web; 
'..   pubi  - 

marginal   vein;  •■, 
|.  ii  I..'  - 1 


18  THK  SEEDS  OF  THE  BLUEGRASSES. 

Poorly  cleaned  samples  are  apt  to  contain  many  sterile  floret-. 
These  are  slender,  sometime-  shrunken,  and  usually  lighter  colored 
than  the  grain-bearing  florets,  which  are  comparatively  plump  and 
often  dark  colored,  owing  to  the  color  of 
the  grain  appearing  through  the  thin  palea. 
(Fig.  3.) 

The  recognition  of  the  several  species  of  Poa, 

when  the  identity  is  questionable,  requires  the 

use   of   a   good    lens   and   a    knowledge   of    the 

principal  distinguishing  characters.     A  sample 

t.ky      under  examination  should  be  spread  thinly  on 

bluegrass (Poa pratensis):  a,      a  sheet  of  paper,  or.  better  still,  OD  a  black  sur- 
grain  bearing:  6,  sterile.  e  awi  i    i"    l  *.  i  e 

lace.  \\  ith  a  good  light  and  means  tor  turn- 
ing the  seeds  over  while  under  the  lens,  they  can  easily  be  examined 
with  reference  to  size,  color,  distinctness  of  veins,  character  of  pubes- 
cence, the  condition  of  the  margins  of  the  glume,  etc.  Exposing  the 
different  sides  of  the  florets  to  the  light  while  under  examination  i> 
often  absolutely  essential  in  determining  the  nature  of  the  veins  and 
pubescence. 

KEY  TO  THE  SEEDS  OF  THE  MORE  COMMON  SPECIES  OF  POA  AS  FOUND 
ON    HERBARIUM    SPECIMENS. 
Basal  web  present. 

Web  very  persistent  and  conspicuous - /'.  arachnifera. 

Web  easily  removed,  small;  keel  of  the  glume  pubescent. 
Intermediate  veins  distinct. 
Intermediate  veins  sharply  defined  as  narrow  ridges;  glume  margins  narrow, 
not  easily  seen  from  the  side;  marginal  veins  usually  smooth.    /'.  triri<ili.<. 
Intermediate  veins  usually  nut  sharply  defined;  glume  margins  broader,  easily 
seen  from  the  side  in  fertile  florets;  marginal  veins  pubescent.    /'.  jir<it<nsi.-<. 
Intermediate  veins  indistinct. 
Rachilla  segment  smooth  or  nearly  so;  florets  --21  mm.  long. 
Florets  usually  broader  above  than  below  the  middle;  apex  usually  flaring; 

rachilla  segment  smooth /'.  compressa. 

Florets  not  evidently  broader  above  than  below  the  middle;  apex  usually 

golden  yellow;  rachilla  segment  sometimes  rough P.  tritium. 

Rachilla  segmenl  usually  pubescent. 

Florets  2\  :!  nun.  li>n<r,  usually  nut  yellow  at  the  apex /'.  nemoralis. 

Basal  web  net  present. 
Florets  strongly  pubescent. 
Intermediate    veins  distinct;  palea   keels    prominent,   often   arched   forward. 

/'.  annua. 

tntermediate  veins  indistinct;  palea  keels  nut  arched /'.  alpina. 

Florets  net  pubescent /'.  sudetica. 


KKY     TO    COMMERt   1  \1.    SI  IDS.  L9 

h  1 1      \'<   COMMERCIAL    BLUEGRASS    SEEDS     Mill:    PREPARATION     FOB 

m  \i;m:t. 

Seeds   t  6  mm.  long;  web  longer  than  glume,  forming  a  woolly  tuft  <<//■'  causing  the 

Is  to  cling  in  bunclu  s  in  the  samph /'.  arachnifera. 

Seeds  2  l';  nun.  long,  usually  rubbed  free  from  hairs  ami  disconnected  in  I  be  sample. 
often  inn)-,  .</•  less  torn  nt  the  apex;  commonest  commercial  kinds. 

mediate  veins  distinct;  seeds  contracted  at  the  apex  and  imi  wider  (tbuvi   than 
below  the  middle;  hyaline  margin  of  apex  seldom  present  in  rubbed  seed. 

/'.  pratcnsis. 
Jut,  mi, 'Ini!,    veins  very  indistinct;  seeds  broader  abovi  than  heloir  the  middle;  hyaline 

margin  of  apes  usually  evident  andjiaring  /'.  compressa. 

Seed-  2  .".  nun.  long,  chiefly  unrubbed;  disconnected  or  clinging  somewhat  in  the 
sample;  usually  not  torn  at  the  apex;  smooth  or  the  pubescence  on  the  veins 
and  the  web  more  or  less  evident. 
Intermediate  veins  indistinct. 

Rachilla  segment  usually  pubescent;  long,  sterile  rachilla  segments  conspicuously 
common;  intermedial  veins  scarcely  evident;  keeland  marginal  veins  pubescent; 

apes  of  seed  often  flaring;  seed  2J-3  mm.  long /'.  nemovalix. 

Rachilla  segment  smooth;  intermediate  veinsbut  slightly  evident;  keel  and  marginal 
veins  pubescent;  apex  of  seed  sometimes  flaring;  seed  2-2\  mm.  long.   /'.  trijloru. 
Intermediate  veins  very  distinct. 
Rachilla    segment  smooth    and  slender;  keel   pubescent,   marginal  veins    usually 
smooth;  apex  of  seed  acute  and  compressed;  seeds  often  distinctly  curt 

■  I /rum  tin  sidi P.  tririalis. 


20 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 


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22 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 


DESCRIPTIONS   OF    SPECIES. 


Poa  pratensis  L. 


KENTUCKY    BLUEGRASS,    .TUNE    CRASS. 


Spikelets  3-5  flowered;  florets  2— 2|  mm.,  rarely  3  mm.,  long,  lanceolate  or  fusiform 
as  viewed  from  the  back,  lanceolate  or  ovate-lanceolate  as  viewed  from  the  side, 
mostly  acute  <>r  the  terminal  floret  sometimes  acuminate  at  the  apex,  glabrous 
between  the  veins,  varying  from  light  brown  to  dark  brown,  sometimes  tinged  with 
purple,  sterile  florets  lighter;  glume  usually  sharply  keeled  quite  to  the  apex  and 
often  strongly  arched,  particularly  at  the  base;  its  marginal  folds  comparatively 
broad,  extending  from  the  base  nearly  or  quite  to  the  apex,  becoming  hyaline-edged 
above  the  middle  in  the  lower  florets,  usually  not  expanded  or  flaring  at  the  apex, 
tin'  edges  nearly  meeting  in  sterile  florets,  separated  and  usually  distended  forward 
in  fertile  lower  florets,  often  scarcely  covering  the  palea  keels  of  fertile  terminal 
florets,  the  hyaline  edge  more  or  less  torn  away  and  the  margins  jagged  at  the  apex 
in  rubbed  commercial  seed;  intermediate  veins  distinct  and  glabrous;  keel  and  mar- 
ginal veins  silky  pubescent  below  the  middle  or  somewhat  higher  on  the  keel;  basal 
web  well  developed;  pubescence  and  web  wanting,  except  occasional  traces  of  the 
former,  in  well-rubbed  commercial  seed;  palea  nearly  or  quite  as  long  as  the  glume, 
its  keels  finely  hispid-ciliate  and  usually  covered  for  the  greater  part  of  their  length 
by  the  margins  of  the  glume;  rachilla  segment  slender,  glabrous,  varying  from  about 
one-sixth  of  the  length  of  the  glume  in  the  lower  florets  to  one-half  its  length  in  the 
terminal  one;  aborted  floret  of  the  sterile  rachilla  segment  minute;  grain  li  mm. 
long,  somewhat  keeled  and  grooved,  often  broadest  below  the  middle,  reddish  brown 
or  darker  about  the  embryo,  ami  semitranslucent.     'Fig.  4.) 


Fig.  I.— Different  forms  of  commercial  seeds  of  Kentucky  bluegrass    Poa  pratensis  :  a  and  b,  bael 

views;  <■-/,  side  views:  g-j,  front  views;  /,  a  terminal  floret. 

Commercial  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  is  mostly  free  from  the  silky 
and  webby  hairs  present  in  hand-gathered  samples,  owing  to  1  he  rubbing 
process  to  which  it  is  subjected  before  being  marketed.  The  severe 
rubbing  results  in  more  or  less  injury  to  the  thin  margins  of  the 
glume,  particularly  at  the  apex,  which  is  usually  found  to  be  more  or 
less  torn  when  examined  with  a  lens.  Seeds  of  a  well-rubbed  sample 
do  not  tend  to  cling  in.  small  hunches  as  do  those  which  arc  unrubbed 
or  hand-gathered.  Well-developed  seeds  are  rather  robust  and  have 
the  glume  margins  well  separated  and  evidently  distended  forward. 
Sterile  seeds,  or  such  as  have  the  grain  wanting  or  poorly  developed, 
are  generally  lighter  colored,  slenderer,  and  more  compressed,  while 
the  glume  margins  more  nearly  meet  and  arc  but  slightly  or  scarcely 
distended.  Such  are  much  lighter  in  weight  than  well-developed 
seeds  and  consequently  are  mostly  blown  out  with  other  chaff  in  well 
cleaned  seed. 


DES<  RIPTI0N8    01     SP]  CIES. 


23 


Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  is  niosl  readily  confounded  with  thai  of 
Canada  bluegrass  (Poa  cimtpr&SHti)  and  rough -stalked  meadow  grass 
i/'  -  trivial  is).  Owing  i<>  the  difference  in  cost,  Poa  eompresxa  is 
sometimes  mixed  with  or  substituted  for  Kentucky  bluegrass,  while 
the  latter  is  sometimes  similarly  employed  with  respect  to  Poa 
tri  I'ialiit. 

The  characteristic  differences  between  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  and 
thai  of  Canada  bluegrass,  as  exhibited  by  the  bulk  samples  and  l»y 
individual  seeds  under  the  lens,  may  be  compared  as  follows: 


TCIO     nil  EGB  ISS 

The  usual,  well-cleaned  bulk  samples  are 

brown  in  color. 
Individual,   well-matured    seeds   exhibit 

the  same  brown  color  of  the  bulk  sam- 

pie. 

Nearly  all  the  seeds  taper  from  the  cen- 
ter to  both  ends  and  are  not  broaderat 
the  apex  than  at  the  base. 

The  apes  of  commercial  seeds  ia  usually 
torn,  obtusely  pointed,  keeled,  and 
scarcely  hyaline. 

The  intermediate  veins  are  almost  in- 
variably distinct, 


Canada   blcegb 

Average  samples  lighter  colored  than 
I  hose  of  Kentucky  bluegrass. 

The  lighter  color  of  individual  see. Is  af- 
fords the  principal  character  for  the 
preliminary  recognition  of  these  seeds 
in  mixtu i 

Must  of  the  seeds  are  broaderat  the  apex 
than  at  the  base,  often  distinctly  broader 
at  the  apex  than  at  the  middle. 

Apex  of  commercial  see. Is  often  torn, 
mostly  expanded  or.  flaring,  often  but 

Slightly   keeled. 

The  intermediate  veins  are  very  indis- 
t  incl  or  apparently  wanting. 


A  number  of  the  samples  of  Kentucky  bluegrass  seed  examined  con- 
tained seed  of  the  Canada  bluegrass.  As  the  latter  seed  found  in  com- 
merce usually  contain-  the  prickles  or  even  the  seeds  of  Canada  thistle 
(Carduus  arvensis),  these  are  often  found  in  samples  of  Kentucky  blue- 
grass  seed  containing  the  ( -anada  bluegrass  seed.  Their  presence  indi- 
cates the  admixture,  since  the  Canada  thistle  does  not  grow  in  the 
seed  producing  localities  of  Kentucky,  while  it  is  abundant  in  Canada, 
where  the  Canada  bluegrass  is  produced.  Samples  of  pure  Kentucky 
bluegrass  seed  are  apt  to  contain  the  prickles  of  horse  nettle  <  Solan  um 
carolineme),  sometimes  wrongly  called  bull  thistle,  a  prickly  plant 
common  in  the  bluegrass  region  of  Kentucky.  These  prickles  tire 
similar  to  those  of  the  Canada  thistle,  but  may  be  distinguished,  as 
shown  hereafter  in  this  paper  in  describing  the  impurities  of  the  blue- 
grass  seeds.  The  fact  that  Canada  bluegrass  only  begins  to  flower  at 
the  time  Kentucky  bluegrass  is  ripe  precludes  the  possibility  of  the 
mixture  of  the  two  kinds  of  seed  owing  to  the  fact  of  growth  toe-ether. 
Such  mixture  can  occur  only  after  the  seed  is  gathered,  through  acci- 
dent or  intent. 


24 


THE    SEEDS    (>F    THE     !!LI'Ki ;  KASSKs. 


Poa  coinpressa  L. 

CANADA    BLUEGRASS,    FLAT-STEMMED    BLX'EGRASS. 

Spikelets  3-9  flowered;  florets2-2£  mm.  long,  oblong-obovate  or  the  terminal  one 
lanceolate  as  viewed  from  the  back,  somewhat  narrowly  oblong  as  viewed  from  the 
side,  obtuse  or  the  terminal  one  acute,  smooth  between  the  veins,  straw  colored  or 
light  brown;  glume  somewhat  arched,  especially  at  the  base,  and  strongly  keeled  at 
the  back,  the  keel  often  less  pronounced  at  the  apex  than  at  the  base:  margins 
infolded  from  the  base  for  about  three-fourths  the  length  of  the  floret  in  the  lower 
florets  ami  nearly  to  the  apex  in  the  upper  ones,  hyaline-edged  above  the  middle, 
often  broadly  so  at  the  apex,  which  is  more  or  less  flaring  in  the  lower  florets,  the 
thin  apex  often  torn  and  jagged  in  commercial  seed;  intermediate  veins  very  indis- 
tinct or  not  evident,  glabrous;  keel  and  marginal  veins  silky  pubescent  below  the  mid- 
dle; basal  web  present,  slight;  palea  nearly  or  quite  equaling  the  glume,  finely  hispid- 
ciliate  on  the  keels,  which  are  usually  more  or  less  exposed  above  the  middle,  sometimes 
from  the  base;  rachilla  segment  glabrous,  varying  from  about  one-fifth  the  length 

of  the  glume  in  the 
lower  florets  to  one- 
half  its  length  in  the 
terminal  one;  aborted 
floret  of  the  sterile 
rachilla  segment  min- 
ute;  grain  1-1 J  mm. 
long,  keeled  and 
slightly  grooved, 
s  e  m  i  t  ra  nsl ucent . 
(  Fig.  5.  I 

The  seed  of  Canada  bluegrass  is  the  cheapest  of  the  bluegrass  seeds, 
and  is  therefore,  not  adulterated  with  other  Poas,  although  it  is  itself 
used  as  an  adulterant  to  a  considerable  extent. 

Pure  samples  of  Canada  bluegrass  seed  almost  always  contain  the 
prickles  and  sometimes  the  seeds  of  Canada  thistle  (Cardans  arvensis)\ 
therefore,  the  occurrence  of  these  prickles  with  other  kinds  indicates 
the  use  of  this  species  as  an  adulterant.  Their  occurrence  with  seed 
of  Poa  trivial')*  without  evidence  of  the  presence  of  Canada  bluegrass 
seed  is  noted  under  the  discussion  of    /'.  trivialis. 


i"iG.  5. — Commercial  seeds  oi  Canada  bluegrass  {Poa  compressa) :  a  and  6, 
buck  views;  c-e,  side  views;  f-i,  front  viewsof  florets;  i,  a  terminal  floret. 


Poa  trivialis   L. 


ROUGH-STALKED    Mi:\l>ow     GRASS. 

Spikelets  2  or 3  flowered;  florets  2-21  mm.,  rarely  3  mm.,  long,  narrowly  lanceolate 
or  the  fertile  terminal  one  ovate-lanceolate  as  viewed  from  the  back,  usually  lanceolate 
and  curved  as  viewed  from  the  side,  laterally  compressed  as  compared  with  other  spe- 
cies, straw  colored  or  light  brown  and  sometimes  purplish,  sharply  keeled,  the  l<>  *1 
somewhat  arched;  margins  of  the  glume  scarcely  or  but  slightly  distended,  narrowly 
and  rather  sharply  infolded  nearly  or  quite  to  the  apex,  which  is  hyaline-edged,  very 
acute  and  rarely  expanded;  intermediate  veins  very  distinct  as  narrow  and  sharply 
defined  ridges;  keel  slightly  pubescent  below  the  mid. lie.  or  rarely  smooth;  marginal 
veins  smooth  or  sometimes  pubescent,  basal  web  present:  palea  nearly  equal  to  the 
glume,  its  keelssmooth  or  finely  hispid-ciliate  near  the  apex  and  mosth  covered  by 
the  margins  of  the  glume  excepl  in  the  larger  terminal  florets;  rachilla  segment  very 
slender,  glabrous,  varying  from  one-fourth  to  one-hall  the  length  of  the  glume; 
gram  I     \  \  mm.  long,  keeled  and  grooved,  scniitranslucent.  reddish  brown.      I  Fig.  6.  | 


in  31  aiPTIONS    OF    3PEOIES. 


25 


Rough-stalked  meadow  grass  is  chiefly  band  gathered;  consequently 
tlic  commercial  seed  is  apt  to  bear  more  or  less  of  the  web  as  well  as 
the  silky  pubescence  on  the  keel.  In  man}7  samples,  however,  both 
are   rubbed   awaj . 

This  seed  resem 

hies     that     of      /'"■' 

pratensis  and  thai 
<>l  Poa,  compressa 
so  closely  that  both 
are    employed    as 

adulterants,  t  he  Fig.  6.— Seeds  ,,f  rough-stalked  meadow  friiss  (Poa  tririuli*  :  "  and  6, 
former    annarent  I  \         back  views;  •   <-,  side  views;  /and  </,  from  views;  ;;.  a  terminal  floret. 

to  considerable  extent,  since  it  has  frequently  been  found  to  constitute 
a  considerable  pari  of  samples  of  so-called  rough-stalked  meadow 
grass.  One  simple  examined  marked  ••/'.,/  tvivialh^  from  Europe 
consisted  almost  wholly  of  Poa  compressa.  Several  samples  from 
Europe  contained  prickles  of  Canada  thistle,  but  no  seeds  of  Canada 
bluegrass  \\  ere  found. 

The  principal  distinguishing  character-  of  the  three  species  may  be 
compared  a-  follow  -: 


R H -STALK  ED  MEADOW    GRASS 

Poa  >■■"  ial 


K  I.N  I  I  (KV    BLUEGR  ISS 

at 


Canada  bli  egrass 

I  Poa  romp)  • 


Commercial  seeds  are  usu-  Commercial  seeds  rarely   pubescent  on  the   veins  and 

ally    pubescenl    on    the  the  webby  hairs  wanting;  consequently  mobile  in  bulk, 

keel  vein,  usually  s tli  not  clinging  in  masses;  unrubbed  seed  pubescent  on 

on    the   marginal    veins  the  marginal  and  keel  veins. 
and  bear  mi  ire  or  less  of 
the  webby  hairs,  conse- 
quently cling  together  in 
masses 

A-  viewed   from  the  side,  Seeds    mostly   straight    as    Seeds  straight,  the  glume 

the  seeds  are  somewhal  viewed    from   the    side,        margins  somewhat    evi- 

curved,   much  narrower  glume     margins      often        dent  from  the  side, 

than     the     others,     the  strongly  distended, 
glume    margins    usually 
only  slightly  evident. 

Apex  of  the  glume  usually  Apex  of  the  glume  more  or  Apex  of  the  glume  often 
uninjured,  strongly  less  tern  in  commercial  torn,  otherwise  some- 
keeled,  acute,  slightly  seed;  keeled,  sharph  what  keeled,  obtusely 
hyaline-margined,  often  pointed,  hyaline-edged  pointed,  broader  than  the 
curved.  and   not   curved   in   un-        base,  hyaline-edged. 

rubbed  seed. 

Intermediate  veins  sharply  Intermediate     veins     d  is-     Intermediate    veins   indis- 

defined  as  narrow  ridges.  tinct     as    rather    coarse       tinct  or  apparently  want- 
ridges,                                     in  ^r. 

Rachilla  segment  very  slen-  Rachilla  segment  coarser  than   in  /'.  trivialis  &ad  often 

der  and  less  variable  in  verj  short, 
length    than    iii   /'.  /ini- 
i, nsii  •  »r  /'.  compressa. 


26 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLFEfiRASSES. 


Poa  nemoralis  L. 


WOOD    MEADOW    1. 1:  \.-s. 


Spikelets  2  or  3  flowered;  florets  '2\~'l  mm.  long,  lanceolate  or  ovate-lanceolate, 
mostly  acute  at  the  apex,  light  brown,  sometimes  yellowish  tinged  near  the  apex; 
glume  rather  broadly  keeled  and  somewhat  arched  at  the  back;  margins  of  the 
glume  narrowly  infolded  quite  to  the  apex  or  hyaline-edged  and  often  flaring  above 
the  middle;  intermediate  veins  very  indistinct;  keel  and  marginal  veins  silky 
pubescent  below  the  middle;  basal  web  slight;  surface  between  the  veins  glabrous; 
palea  nearly  equal  to  the  glume,  evidently  shorter  in  florets  having  a  flaring  apex, 
its  keels  hispid-ciliate  and  usually  covered  by  the  margins  of  the  glume;  rachilla 
segment  varying  from  one-fourth  to  three-fourths  of  the  length  of  the  glume,  the 
sterile  rachilla  segment  very  uniformly  much  longer  than  the  others,  more  or  less 
appressed  pubescent,  the  pubescence  somewhat  variable  and  sometimes  nearly  want- 
ing; aborted  floret  of  the  sterile  rachilla  segment  often  one-half  as  long  as  the  seg- 
ment; grain  lij  mm.  long,  rather  slender,  semitranslueent.     (Fig.  7.) 


7    3     7,   r    -j 


Fig.  ' 


Seeds  of  wood  meadow  grass  (Poa  nemoralis):  a-c,  back  views;  <i  and  e,  side 

views;/-,/,  front  views;  j,  a  terminal  floret. 


Commercial  wood  meadow  grass  seed  is  not  rubbed  in  preparation 
for  market,  and  therefore  possesses  much  of  its  rather  persistent  and 
prominent  silky  pubescence,  and  the  thin  tips  of  the  florets  are  mostly 
uninjured.  The  pubescence  of  the  rachilla  segment  is  persistent  and 
present  in  most  of  the  seeds  of  all  pure  samples  of  this  species.  It 
affords  the  most  marked  characteristic  by  which  the  seeds  of  P.  nemo- 
ralis may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  other  commercial  species  of 
Poa.  The  conspicuously  longer  rachilla  segments  of  the  terminal 
florets  are  noticeably  abundant  in  samples  of  this  species,  since  these 
florets  constitute  from  one-third  to  one-half  of  all  the  seed.  The 
abundance  of  the  long  rachilla  segments  is  helpful  in  distinguishing 
these  seeds  from  those  of  other  Poas. 

Commercial  seed  of  P.  nemoralis  is  apt  to  be  very  much  adulterated 
with  other  species  of  Poa.  Of  a  number  of  samples  examined  less 
than  half  were  true  to  name.  One  was  nearly  pure  Canada  bluegrass 
seed,  and  the  rest  consisted  in  part  of  one  or  all  of  the  following 
species:   P.  pratensis,  /'.  compressa,  and  /'.  trivialis. 

The  following  comparison  of  characters  should  render  it  compara- 
tively easy  to  distinguish  the  seeds  of  /'.  nemoralis  from  those  of  the 

other  species. 


DESi  1:1  PTIONS    OF    SPEC]  l  9. 


_'. 


Wood  m  eadow  ■ 


K  IN  I  DCKY      BLUEUK  ts- 

;/;•<(/.  n»U  .     Rough-si  \i.k ed 

Ml.  VDOW     URASS     I  /'"•<     Iriri- 


CANAD  1    Ul  1   EGRASS 


Silky    pubescence    of    the     Silky  pubescence  of  the  veins  wanting  or  but  slight. 

\  eins  mosl  ly  presenl  anil 

prominent. 
Apex   of   the  glume  slen-     Apex  of  the  glume  acute.       Apex  of  the  glume  broadly 

derly    pointed     or    nar-  Haring. 

n iw  l\  Baring. 
Intermediate    veins    indis      Intermediate      veins     dis-    Intermediate    veins    indis- 
tinct, tinct.  tinct. 
Rachilla    segment     pubes-     Rachilla  segment  smooth,  not  exceeding  half  thelength 

cent,    often    more    than        of  the  glume. 

half   ih«'  length   of    the 

glume. 

Poa  triflora  Ehrh.    i  P.  tiava  I..,  P.  serotina  Ehrh.). 


row  i,   \n:  vDow 


Hi  VSS.    I   \  LSE    ni:in  I  IP, 


e    f     3 

Seeds  of  fowl   meadow    grass   {Poa  triflo 


back 


Spikelets  2  I  flowered;  florets  2  2\  mm.  long,  lanceolate  or  ovate-lanceolate  as 
viewed  from  the  back,  broadly  keeled  and  strongly  arched  at  the  back,  light  brown 
and  usually  Btrongly  tinged  with  yellow  above  the  middle,  sometimes  purplish, 
margins  of  the  glume  narrowly  infolded  below  the  middle  or  quite  to  the  apex, 
which  is  hyaline-edged,  expanded  bul  scarci 
tinct;  keel  and  marginal 
veins  silky  pubescent  below 
the  middle;  basal  web 
slighl :  palea  nearly  or  quite 
equal  to  the  glume,  finely 
hispid-ciliate  on  the  keels, 
which  are  mainly  i 
by  t  he  glume  margins  in  the 
lower  florets;  rachilla  seg- 
ment slender,  glabrous  or 
sometimes  slightly  scabrous,  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  or  two-thirds  the  length  of 
the  glume;  aborted  floret  of  the  sterile  rachilla  segmenl  often  prominent  and  nearly 
as  long  as  the  rachilla  segment;  grain  1  nun.  long,  comparatively  robusl  and  smooth, 
scarcely  keeled  or  grooved,  semitranslucent.     (Fig.  s- 

Most,  if  not  all,  of  the  seed  of  /'.  triflora  <ui  the  market  appeal-  to 
be  of  foreign  production.  The  samples  examined  have  proved  to  be 
the  worst  found  among  the  bluegrasses.  Ii  is  probable  that  abetter 
grade  of  seed  could  be  secured  from  the  natural  meadows  in  this  coun- 
try where  this  species  often  constitutes  the  principal  grass.  The 
seeds  of  P.  triflora  are  very  similar  to  those  of  Canada  bluegrass  and 
u  ood  meadow  errass. 


virus;  il  and  i .  side  views;  /  ft,  front  views;  //.  a  terminal 


28 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 


The  principal  distinguishing  characters  of  the  three  kinds  are  as 

follows: 


Fowl  meadow  grass 
(Poa  triflora). 

Seeds  -!--■>  mm.  long. 

Seeds  mostly  narrower  at 
the  apex  than  at  the  cen- 
ter. 

Seeds  usually  yellowish  at 
the  apex. 

Intermediate  veins  usually 
evident  but  indistinct. 

Pubescence  of  the  veins 
and  the  web  often  pres- 
ent in  commercial  seed. 

Rachilla  segment  mostly 
smooth,  sometimes  slight- 
ly rough,  often  two- 
thirds  the  length  of  the 
glume. 


Canada  BLUEGKASS 
(Poa  compressa). 

Seeds  2-2i  mm.  long. 

Seeds  mostly  broader  at  the 
apex  than  at  the  center 
or  base. 

Seeds  not  yellowish  at  the 
apex. 

Intermediate  veins  indis- 
tinct or  more  commonly 
not  evident. 

Pubescence  of  the  veins  and 
the  web  mostly  absent  in 
commercial  seed. 

Rachilla  segment  smooth, 
not  exceeding  one-half  of 
the  length  of  the  glume. 


Wood  meadow  grass 
(Poa  nemoralis). 

Seeds  2j-3  mm.  long. 

Seeds  narrower  or  not 
broader  at  the  apex  than 
at  the  center. 

Seeds  sometimes  yellowish 
at  the  apex. 

Intermediate  veins  indis- 
tinct. 

Pubescence  of  the  veins 
usually  present  in  com- 
mercial seed. 

Rachilla  segment  pubes- 
cent or  sometimes  only 
rough,  often  three-fourths 
the  length  of  the  glume. 


The  name  fowl  meadow  grass  is  often  applied,  both  by  seedsmen 
and  by  writers  upon  grasses,  to  Punicularla  nervata. 


Poa  arachnifera  Torr. 


TEXAS    BLUEGRASS. 


Spikelets  4  or  5  flowered;  florets  4-6  mm.  long,  narrowly  lanceolate,  acuminate, 
straw  colored  or  light  brown;  glume  strongly  keeled  quite  to  the  apex  and  somewhat 
arched;  margins  narrowly  infolded  below  and  becoming  broadly  hyaline  above  the 
middle,  not  widely  flaring  at  the  apex;   marginal  and  keel  veins  strongly  pubes- 


/      9 


Fig.  9. — Seeds  of  Texas  bluegrass  [Poa  arachnifera):  a  and  6,  back  views,  seeds  showing  the  long 
hairs  of  the  web;  c  and  tl,  side  views;  <-</.  front  views;  ;/,  a  terminal  floret. 


cent  with  lung,  silky  hairs;  basal  web  copious,  often  twice  as  long  as  the  floret, 
very  persistent;  surface  between  the  veins  glabrous,  the  keel  hispid-ciliate  above  the 
middle;  palea  from  three-fourths  to  four-fifths  the  length  of  the  glume,  its  keels 
more  or  less  ex  posed,  silky  pubescent  to  the  middle  and  hispid-ciliate  at  the  apex; 
rachilla  segment  varying  from  about  one-sixth  to  one-third  the  length  of  the  glume, 
glabrous;  aborted  floret  of  the  sterile  rachilla  segment  minute;  grain  slender,  IJ-3 
mm.  long,  oblong-fusiform,  nearly  opaque,  distinctly  grooved  and  keeled.     (Fig.  9.) 


DESCRIPTIONS    OF    9PE<  I  ES. 


29 


Texas  bluegrass  seed  in  commerce  is  unrubbed,  and  as  the  silky 
pubescence  and  webareverj  persistent  thej  are  always  present.  The 
hairs  are  so  long  and  copious  that  the  seeds  cling  in  loosely  matted, 
woolly  bunches,  and  thus  are  easily  disl  inguished 
from  all  the  other  commercial  Poas.     (Fig.  1".  i 

Poa  annua  L. 

\N\I    w     ME  IDOW    GB  USS. 

Spikeleta  3  5  flowered;  florets  LJ  3  nun.  long,  ovate  or 
ovate-lanceolate  and  relatively  robust,  strongly  keeled  and 
arched  at  the  back,  more  or  less  densely  pubescent,  light 
brown  or  ■  lark  brown  and  often  purplish  or  yellowish; 
margins  of  the  glume  very  oarrowly  infolded  below  the 
middle,  thin  and  broadly  hyaline  above  the  middle  in  the 
lower  florets,  flaring,  gaping,  or  infolded  at  the  apex;  inter- 
mediate veins  usually  distinct  as  narrow  ridges  extending 
from  the  base  to  the  margin  of  the  apex,  glabrous  or  pubescent;  marginal  veins 
and  keel  densely  soft-pubescent  below  the  middle;  surface  between  the  veins  some- 
times more  oi  less  pubescent  at  the  base;  web  wanting;  palea  somewhat  shorter  than 
the  glume,  except  in  the  terminal  floret;  keels  of  the  palea  coarse  and  prominent, 
mostly  exposed,  usually  arched  forward  and  exposed  to  side  view  in  florets  having  a 
well-developed  grain,  often  contracted  toward  the  rachilla  segment  at  the  base,  silky 
pubescent  from  near  the  base  nearly  to  the  apex;  rachilla  segment  glabrous,  from 
one-fourth  to  one-third  the  length  of  the  glume,  aborted  floret  of  the  sterile  rachilla 
segment  minute;  grain  1-1  \  mm.  long,  robust,  distinctly  granular,  keeled  and  grooved, 
slightly  translucent,     i  Fig.  11.  I 

'The  seod  of  /'"/  annua  is  not  in  the  trade  and  is  not  apt  to  become 
mixed  with  the  commercial  bluegrass  seeds.     It  may  be  readily  distin 
guished  from  the  common  commercial  species  of  Poa  by  its  abundant 


Fig.  10.— a  cluster  of   I  - 
bluegrass  seeds  matted  by 
the  webby  libers. 


\ 


■I  i 


Fig.  11. — Seeds  oi  annual  meadow  p  <inua):  n  and  b,  back  views    c-e,  aide  views;  f-i,  front 

views;  i.  a  terminal  tlorct. 

pubescence,  arched  and  silky  pubescent  keel-  of  the  palea,  and  robust 
form.  The  seed  most  closelj  resembles  that  of  Poa  alpina,  from  which 
it  is  distinguished  in  individual  -red-  by  its  distinct  intermediate  veins 
and  prominent,  arched,  and  silky  pubescent  but  not  hispid-ciliate  palea 
keels. 

Poa  alpina  1  . 

ALPIM      MEADOW     GRASS. 

Spikelets  ;;  ii  (lowered:  Horets  -'■  '■'<'  mm.  long,  ovate-lanceolate  or  obovate,  the 
uppermost  lanceolate,  broadly  keeled,  arched,  acute,  or  obtuse,  light  brown,  some- 
times purplish,  and  often  yellowish  tinged  al  the  apex;  margins  narrowly  infolded 
below  the  middle  and  becoming  broadly  hyaline  at  the  apex:  intermediate  veins 


30 


THE    SEEDS    OV    THE    BLUEGRASSKS. 


indistinct  or  evident  only  below  the  middle;  keel  and  marginal  veins  silky  pubescent 
below  the  middle  or  higher  on  the  keel,  which  ishispid  at  the  apex;  surface  between 
the  marginal  veins  and  keel  appressed  pubescent  at  the  base;  web  wanting;  palea 
nearly  or  quite  equal  to  the  glume,  its  keels  not  arched  as  in  /'<«<  annua,  slightly 
silky  pubescent  below  the  middle  and  hispid-ciliate  above;  rachilla  segment  glabrous, 
varying  from  no  longer  than  wide  to  one-third  the  length  of  the  glume;  aborted 
floret  of  the  sterile  rachilla  segment  minute;  grain  lj  mm.  long,  keeled  and  grooved, 
semitranslucent,  dark  reddish  brown,  granular.     (Fig.  12.  I 


/    y 


Fig.  12. — Seeds  of  alpine  meadow  grass  (Poa  alpina):  a  and  6,  back  views   i   e,  side  views;  f-h,  front 

views;  ft,  a  terminal  floret. 

The  seed  of  Poa  alpina  is  not  on  the  market  and  is  not  likely  to  be 
found  in  commercial  .seeds.  Individual  seeds  of  P.  alpina  closely 
resemble  those  of  P.  annua,  but  are  to  be  distinguished  by  the  indis- 
tinct intermediate  veins  of  the  glume,  the  variable  rachilla  segment, 
and  especially  by  the  keels  of  the  palea.  which  are  slenderer,  not 
arched,  less  pubescent,  and  strictly  hispid-ciliate  above.  The  plant  is 
alpine  and  occurs  in  the  northern  part  of  the  United  States  as  far 
west  as  Colorado,  in  Canada  and  Alaska,  and  in  Europe  and  Asia. 


Poa  sudetica  1  Iaenke. 

Spikelets  2  or  3  flowered;  florets  3-4  mm.  long,  lanceolate  or  ovate-lanceolate; 
apes  acute  or  acuminate;  glume  somewhat  arched  and  strongly  keeled  at  the  hack, 
light  brown  or  dark  brown,  sometimes  tinged  with  purple;  margins  of  the  glume 
narrowly  infolded  below  the  middle,  narrowly  hyaline-edged  above  the  middle  and 
not  flaring  at  the  apex;  all  the  veins  distinct,  never  silky  pubescent,  usually  hispid; 


Fig.  13.— Seeds  of  l'<><i  sudetica:  a  ami  b,  back  views;  c-c, side  views; /and  3,  front  views;  g,a  terminal 

floret. 

general  surface  scabrous  or  sometimes  glabrous;  web  not  present;  palea  equaling  or 
somewhat  exceeding  the  glume  and  often  separated  from  it  at  the  apex  in  florets 
having  a  well-developed  grain;  keels  of  the  palea  hispid-ciliate,  mostly  exposed  and 
more  or  less  evidenl  from  the  side;  rachilla  segment  varying  from  one-fifth  to  one- 
third  or  even  one-half  the  length  of  the  glume,  glabrous  or  scabrous,  sterile  rachilla 


DESCRIPTIONS    OF    SPECIES. 


31 


segment  tapering  t"  the  apex,  the  aborted  liorel  usually  minute,  1 » 1 1 1  sometimes  con- 
spicuous and  nearly  equal  to  the  raehilla  segment;  grain  about  2  mm.  long,  robust, 
light  brown,  slightly  keeled  and  grooved,  semitranslucent.     i  Fig.  13 

This   is  a    European   species  not    found   in   the  American   market. 

Panicularia  spp. 

( )w  ing  tut  he  fact  t  bat  Panicularia  »<  rrata  is  somet  imes  sold  as  fowl 
meadow  grass,  a  description  of  its  seed  is  presented.  A.  description 
of  the  closely  allied  P.  amerieana,  which  is  often  associated  with 
/'.  n,  ffni'i.  is  added  as  an  aid  in  comparing  the  two  species. 

Panicularia  nervatu  (  Willd.  i    Kuntze. 

NERVED    MANNA    (iRASS,   SOMETIMES    CALLED    FOWL    MEADOW     GRASS. 

Florets  l-lj  nun.  long,  robust,  ovate  i  obovate  with  reference  to  the  planl  |,  lijiht 
brown,  purplish  and  sometimes  greenish  when  immature;  glume  rounded  at  the 
Lark,  prominently  seven-veined,  its  margins 
somewhat  infolded  at  the  base  and  not  flaring  at 
the  apex,  which  is  sometimes  narrowly  hyaline; 
surface  smooth,  except  the  veins,  which  arc 
sometimes  scabrous;  pa  Ira  equal  to  or  sometimes 
longer  than  the  glume,  broad,  the  keels  exposed, 
prominent  and  nearly  meeting  at  the  rounded 
and  sometimes  slightly  notched  apex,  usually 
scabrous  above  the  middle;  raehilla  segmenl  one- 
fifth  to  one-fourth  the  length  of  the  glume,  sub- 
cylindrical  and  scarcely  expanded  at  the  apex,  the  terminal  one  somewhat  longer 
than  the  others  and  tipped  by  a  minute,  aborted  floret;  grain  loosely  held  by  the 
stiffish  glume  and  palea,  obovate,  slightly  flattened,  f-1  mm.  long,  smooth,  some- 
what polished,  very  dark  brown  or  black,  sometimes  slightly  translucent,     i  I"Lr.  11. ) 

Panicularia  amerieana  (Torr.  I  MacM. 

REED  MEADOW  GRASS,  WATER  MEADOW  GRASS,  TALI.  MANNA  GRASS. 

Florets  3  3J  mm.  long,  elliptical-oblong  as  viewed  from  the  front  or  hack,  some- 
what spindle-shaped  as  viewed  from  the  side,  obtuse  at  the  apex,  brown,  or  purplish 

before  complete  maturi- 
ty; glume  rounded  at  the 
hack,  distinctly  seven- 
veined,  its  margins  nar- 
rowly infolded  at  the 
base  and  not  flaring  at 
the  apex ;  surface  smooth 
between  the  seal 
veins:  palea  equal  to  the 
glume,  concave,  its  keels 
exposed,  nearly  meeting 
at  the  apex.  \  cry  finely 
hispid-ciliate;  raehilla 
ubcvlindrical,  somen  hat 


'■: 


Fig.   14.  -Seeds  of   nerved   manna   grass 
Panii  a  and  6,  back  and 

front  views;  c,  grain. 


ol  water  meadow  grass    Panicularia  amei 
and  e,  back,  side,  and  fronl  view  ••  of  seeds;  d,  p 


ent  one-fifth  to  one-fourth  the  length  of  the  glum* 
expanded  .u  the  apex,  that  of  the  terminal  floret  slightly  longer  and  tipped  by  a 
minute,  aborted  floret;  grain  broadly  oblong,  U-2  nun.  long,  somewhat  flattened, 
verj    lark  brown,  slightly  translucent,  smooth,  and  somewhat   polished  when  fully 

developed.       v  !•"]•_:.    15. 


32 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 


"WEED  SEEDS   COMMONLY    FOUND  WITH   COMMERCIAL  BLUE- 
GRASS  SEEDS. 

The  following  weed  seeds  are  those  most  frequently  found  with  the 
various  kinds  of  bluegrass  seed. 

Bursa  bursa-pastoris  (L.)  Britton. 

shepherd'  s-pubse. 

Seeds  g-1  nun.  long,  oval-oblong,  one  extremity  of  ten  pointed  by  the  whitish  tissue 
of  the  scar,  flattened  with  rounded  edges;  faces  similar  and  usually  presenting  two  shal- 

lowgrooves;  color  yellowish  orreddish  brown, 

usually  darker  near  the  sear;  surface  nearly 
smooth;  endosperm  absent;  embryo  curved 
upon  itself,  the  cotyledons  incumbent;  seeds 
developing  a  coat  of  transparent  mucilage 
when  placed  in  water.     (Fig.  16.) 

Seldom  found  abundantly,  but  occurring 
frequently  in  all  of  the  commercial  bluegrass 
seeds. 


Fn;.  til. — Seeds  of  shepherd's-purse  {Bursa 
bursa-pastoris):  a,  siili-  view;  b,  edge  view; 

.-,  natural  size  of  seeds. 


Lepidium  virginicum  L. 

PEPPEEGKASS. 

Seeds  1  \  mm.  long,  much  flattened,  ovate  with  one  edge  straight  and  thicker  than 
the  other,  the  curved  edge  narrowly  margined,  the  mar- 
gin usually  hyaline  and  broadest  at  the  broad  end  of  the 
seed;  faces  similar,  each  nearly  crossed  lengthwise  by  a 
curved  groove;  scar  at  the  small  extremity,  marked  by 
a  small,  whitish  tissue;  surface  smooth,  dull,  and  red- 
dish yellow;  endosperm  wanting;  embryo  curved  upon 
itself,  the  cotyledons  accumbent;  seeds  developing  a 
copious  coat  of  transparent  mucilage  when  placed  in 
water.     (Fig.  17.) 

Frequently  found  in  home-grown  seed  and  sometimes  very  abundant,  especially  in 
poorly  cleaned  seed. 

Cerastium  vulgatum  L. 


a-  b 

Fig.  17. — Seeds  of  peppergrass 
[Lepidium  virginicum.):  a,  side 
view;  6,  edge  view;  c,  natural 
size  of  seeds. 


MOUSE-EAB    CHICKWEED. 

Seeds  about  \  mm.  long,  flattened  but  not  thin,  rounded  or  triangular,  the  broad 
edge   rounded,   the  narrow   edge  notched;  surface  roughened  by  small  tubercles 

or  very  short  ridges,  dull,  and  reddish- 
brown;  embryo  cylindrical,  curved  about 
the  endosperm,  its  extremities  nearly 
meeting  at  the  notch  in  the  seed  coat. 
(Fig.  is.) 

Found  frequently;  sometimes  abundant  in 
1 rly  cleaned  seed. 


*>!//, 


a 


Fig   i*.    Seeds  <>i  mouse  ear  chickweed  1 1  '< 
rastium  i  ulgatum  i;  o,  side  views;  6,  natural 
size  of  seeds, 


Alsine  media  L. 


COMMON    CHICKWEED. 


Seeds  circular-ovate,  about  1  mm.  in  diameter  with  little  variation  in  size,  flattened 
with  plane  laces  and  flattened  edges;  scar  in  a  small  notch  in  the  edge;  surface  dull. 
Slightly  tubercled,  the  tubercles   in    rows  on  the  edges  and  in  more  or  less  evidently 


WEED    SEEDS    FOUND    WITH     HI. I    EGRA8S    -111'-. 


88 


concentric  rows  "ii  the  similar  fares;  color  brown,  or  reddish  in  immature  seeds 
embryo  cylindrical,  curved  aboul  the  endosperm,  its  extremities  nearly  meeting  al 
the  scar,     i  Fig.  19,  «.  i 

l    .,     media  is  very  common  in  the  United  States,  bul  is  so  low-growing  thai  the 
American  method  of  seed  stripping  prevents  the  occurrence  of  its  seeds  in  abundance 
in  commercial  bluegrass  seeds      It-  seeds 
are  common  in  European  bluegrass  seeds, 
particularly  those  of  rough-stalked  meadow 
grass 


Alsine  graminea  t  I-.  )  Britton. 


a 

Fig.  19. — Seeds  of  chickweeds:  a,  Alsh 
<Uu:  b,  A.  graminea;  c,  natural  size  of  seeds. 


Seeds  similar  to  those  of  Alsine  media,  ex- 
cepl  in  form  and  surface  markings;  usually 

circular  or  oval;  faces  and  edges  somewhat  rounded,  finely  roughened  by  short,  inter- 
lacing  ridges  which  arc  arranged   more  or  less  concentrically  on  the   faces  ami 

parallel  on  the  edges;  surface  dull;  color  grayish-brown,  immature  seeds  reddish. 
Pig.  19,  6.) 
v.!  found  in  American  seed;  frequent,  although  not  abundant,  in  European  seed. 


5"« 


a 


9* 

h 


Carduus  arvensis  i  L.  I  Robs. 


(  A\  WiA   THISTLE. 


Km.,  'jn.    Seeds  of  Canada  thistle  ( (  urduttsarvi  nsis):  a,  well 
matured  seeds;  ''.  natural  size  of  seeds;  c,  a  shriveled  seed 


Sethis  (akenes)  2-3  mm.  long, 
oblong-lanceolate,  flattened  with 
obtuse  edges,  slightly  ridged  along 
each  face,  straight  or  curved  edge- 
wise, sometimes  facewise;  apex 
truncate,  often  obliquely  so,  con- 
cave with  a  ring-like  border;  corolla  scar  represented  by  a  central,  conical  projection; 
surface  dull  and  mostly  smooth,  sometimes  with  several  narrow,  longitudinal  grooves; 
color  brown,  the  apical  margin  usually  lighter 
ami  sometimes  yellowish.     I  Fig.  20.  i 

Prickles  of  Canada  thistle  and  horse  nettle 
i  So I, ,,, in, i  earolinensi  i  often  occur  in  certain 
bluegrass  seeds.  While  the  presence  of  the 
former  is  significant  with  respect  to  adultera- 
tion, the  two  kinds  are  apt  to  be  confounded. 
The  prickles  of  Canada  thistle  are  2  6  mm. 
Ii  >ng,  very  slender,  yellowish,  usually  expanded 
and  lateralis  flattened  at  the  base,  which  con- 
sists of  a  portion  of  the  leaf  ti -sue  and  is  darker 
Colored  than  the  rest  of  the  prickle,  some w  hat 

rounded  oi  angular  in  form  and  jagged-edged. 
I  Fig.  21,  cand  d 

The  prickles  of  horse  nettle  (Solanun 
tin,  ns,  i  are  coarser,  I  s  mm.  in  length,  light 
yellow  in  color,  usually  nol  darker  at  the  base. 
They  are  produced  on  the  stems  and  the  coarse 
midribs  of  the  leaves,  and  i  in  breaking  i  iff  ha\  e 
a  transversely  flattened  scar.  They  occur  fre- 
quently in  sample-,  of  Kentucky-grown  /'""  pratensia  and  are  easily  mistaken  for 
those  of  Canada  thistle.      |  Fig.  21,  </  and  b. ) 

Mature, 1  seeds,  shriveled  sc-ds,  and  prickle-  from  the  leaves  and  stems  of  Canada 
thistle  are  frequently    found  in  Canada  bluegrass  seed.      The  presence  nf  the  prickles 


I   1G 


Prickles  often  found  with  blue- 
grass  scnl:  i;  mill  6,  horse  nettle 
mini  carolinense)  enlarged  and  natural 

and    <l.  Canada    1 1 1 i - 1 '  ■ 
urn  nsis  |  enlarged  and  natural  size;  1  and 
■J.  characteristic  forms  of  tin-  bases  of 
the  two  kinds  of  prickles. 


34 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 


in  the  more  expensive  kinds  of  bluegrass  seed  indicates  the  probable  use  of  Canada 
1  duegrass  seed  as  an  adulterant.  These  prickles  have  been  found,  however,  in  rough- 
stalked  meadow  grass  seed  in  which  no  trace  of  Canada  bluegrass  seed  appeared. 
Owing  to  the  troublesome  nature  of  Canada  thistle,  care  should  be  taken  not  to 
introduce  its  seeds  with  those  of  the  bluegrasses. 


b 


Fig.  22.— Seeds  of  dandelion  (Taraxa- 
cum taraxacum):  <i,  side  views;  b,  nat- 
ural size  of  seeds 


Taraxacum  taraxacum  ( L. )  Karst. 

DANDELION. 

Seeds  (akenes)  3-4  mm.  long,  including  the  per- 
sistent base  of  the  beak,  which  forms  the  pointed 
apex  of  the  seed,  lance -shaped  or  broadly  so, 
straight  or  curved,  flattened  or  slightly  four- 
angled  with  similar  faces,  barbed  in  the  upper, 
broader  half;  teeth  directed  toward  the  apex, 
prominent  on  the  edges  and  arranged  in  about 
five  rows  on  each  face,  which   has  two  slender 

grooves  with  three  rows  of  teeth  between  them;  surface  dull;  color  light  brown  or 

dark  brown.     (Fig.  22.) 

Occurring  occasionally  in   both  American  and  European  seed,  these  seeds  have 

appeared  most  frequently  in  Kentucky  bluegrass  and  rough-stalked  meadow  grass 

seeds. 

Matricaria  inodora  L. 

SCENTLESS   CAMOMILE. 

Seeds  (akenes)  1J— 2  mm.  long,  slender  or 
robust,  oblong  with  obtuse  extremities,  taper- 
ing somewhat  from  the  truncate  apex  to  the 
base,  slightly  flattened;  faces  dissimilar,  one 
having  three  prominent,  longitudinal  ribs 
joined  at  the  apex,  the  lateral  ribs  and  a  partial 
one  joined  to  them  at  the  apex  appearing  on 
the  opposite  face,  which  also  presents  two  small  cavities  separated  by  the  partial 
ridge;  surface  between  the  ridges  transversely  roughened,  dark  brown  or  black  and 
darker  than  the  brown  or  yellowish  ridges.     (Fig.  23. ) 

Found   only  in  foreign-grown   seed,  chiefly  in   rough- 
stalked  meadow  grass  and  wood  meadow  grass  seeds. 


Fig.  23. — Seeds  of  scentless  camomile 
(Matricaria  inodora):  a,  back,  front,  and 
edge  views;  b,  natural  size  of  seeds. 


r 


Hieracium  sp. 


n  A  WK  WEED. 


Seeds  (akenes)  1-3  mm.  long,  cylindrical,  pointed  at 
the  base;  apex  truncate,  bearing  a  small  tuft  of  short, 
whitish,  marginal  bristles  (the  remnants  of  the  pappus 
bristles);  surface  lightly  ten-ridged  lengthwise;  color 
brown  or  black,  reddish  in  immature  seeds.  (Fig.  24.) 
Found  most  frequently  in  wood  meadow  grass  seed. 
The  seeds  of  several  species  of  hawkwecd,  occurring  in  both  America  and  Europe, 
are  practically  indistinguishable.  Specific  determinations  can  not  be  made  by  exam- 
ination with  a  lens.  The  troublesome  character  id"  orange  hawkwecd  |  Hieracium 
aurantiacum),  whose  seeds  are  1 ', -1:{  mm.  long,  justifies  care  in  the  use  of  seed 
containing  seeds  of  any  species  of  hawkweed. 


Fig.  24.— Seeds   of    hawkweed 
(Hieracium  sp.):  a,  side  views; 

l>,  natural  size  of  seeds. 


wilD    81  l  DS    l"i   N  D    w  l  111     BL1   EGB  V8      SI  l  D9. 


35 


Anthemis  cotula  I.. 


DOG    FENNEL,    MAYWEED. 

!-  akenes  cylindrical,  broadly  club-shaped,  IJ-2 
curved;  suTface  < lull  and  usualh  roughened  by 
man}  small  tubercles  more  or  less  distinctly 
arranged  in  ten  rows,  indistinctly  few-tubercled 
or  nearly  smooth,  but  commonly  more  or  less 
■  ibbed;  base  tipped  bj  the  rounded, 
whitish  scar;  apex  rounded  or  slightly  pointed; 
color  varying  from  lighl  to  dark  brown,     i  I  ij 

Found  occasionally,  l>ui   never  abundantly,   in 
both  American  and  European  bluegrass  Beed. 


nun.    long,   straight   <>r 


i  Is  of  dog  fennel  I  Anthemis 

eotula):  a, side  views;  6,  natural  size 
oi  si  eds 


Chenopodium  album   L. 

i  vmb's-qd  vrters,  pigweed. 

Is  nearly  circular,  lens-shaped,  with  blunt  edges,  l-lj  nun.  in  diameter,  occur- 
ring in  commercial  seeds  as  free  seeds  or  as  fruits,  the  seeds  proper  being  invested  by 

the  thin  pericarp;  free  si  eds  jet  black,  smooth 
hi-  nearly  so,  and  highly  polished;  sear  occu- 
pying a  curved  groove  extending  from  the  cen- 
ter tn  the  edge  of  one  face  and  usually  e\  idenl 
as  a  light-colored  line;  fruits  only  slightly 
larger  than  tin-  seeds,  mostly  gray  or  black  and 
dull;  pericarp  wall  often  broken  away,  expos- 
ing theshining  black  surfaceof  the  seed;  again, 
this  wall  and  the  seed  coat  are  often  broken, 
exposing  the  yellowish  or  whitish  embryo  and 
endosperm;  embryo  cylindrical,  occupying 
the  border  of  the  seed  and  Burrounding  the  endosperm,  its  extremities  almost  meet- 
ing, the  tip  of  the  caulicle  occupying  an  extension  of  the  seed  coal  at  the  edge  beside 

the  sear.      i  Fig.  L'li.  ) 

Found  chiefly  in  Kentucky  bluegrass  and  Canada 
bluegrass  seeds,  but  nut  frequently  and  never  abun- 
dantly. 

Plantago  lanceolata  L. 


b 


'       a 

Seeds  of  lamb's-quarti 
ilium  album):  a, various  forms 
natural  size  of  seeds. 


RIB-GB  ISS,    BCCKHORN,    ENGLISH    PLANTAIN. 

Seeds  oval-oblong,   I  ;  3  nun.  long,   Battened,  one 


\ 


views  of  seeds;  b,  natural  si/''  oi 
seeds. 


faee  convex,  the  other  having  a  deep  groove  and     fig.  27.— seeds  of  rib-i 

rounded,  infolded  edges  which  scarcely  meet  at  one       tagolanc  front  and  back 

end;  surface  smooth  or  slightly  uneven,  shining  in 

fresh  seed,  brown  or  somewhal  amber-colored;  scar 

situated  at  the        tei     i  the  grooved  face;  embryo  straight,  in  the  center  of  the 

endosperm,  usually  evidenl  through  the  somewhat  trans) .a rent  endosperm  and  seed 

coat.      When  placed  in  water  the  seeds  develop  a  coat  of  transparent  mucilage. 

Small  seeds  are  found  t.i  s extent  in  both  American  and  European  seed;  more 

commonly  in  Kentucky  bluegrass  than  in  Canada  bluegrass  seed. 


36 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGKASSES. 


Eumex  crispus  L. 


CURLED    DOCK. 


Seeds  (akenes)  1  i— 2A  mm.  long,  triangular  with  equal  faces  and  broadly  ovate- 
lanceolate;  color  dark  reddish  brown;  surface  smooth,  polished;  apex  acute;  base 
obtuse,  contracted,  and  narrowly  truncate  at  the  scar;  edges  narrowly  margined; 

faces  longitudinally  concave  in  poorly  developed 
seeds;  true  seed  coat  thin;  embryo  cylindrical,  rest- 
ing in  the  center  of  one  face  of  the  endosperm; 
caulicle  pointing  to  the  base  of  the  akene.  (Fig.  28.) 
Found  occasionally,  especially  in  Kentucky  blue- 
grass  and  in  Canada  bluegrass  seeds;  small,  imper- 
FiG.i       Seeds  of  curled  dock  (.Ru-    fectly   developed  s.-cd   more  commonly  found    than 

mexcrispus):  a,  broad  and  narrow    i„            i  „                   i  tu     •         i         i     "  ,i  ,    ■, 

large,    heavy  seed.  1  heir     sharply    three-angled, 

forms;  6,  natural  size  of  seeds.                                  "  .  ...... 

beechnut-like  form  distinguishes  them   trom  other 

impurities,  except  one  or  two  other  kinds  of  dock.     The  docks  are  destructive  weeds, 

and  care  should  be  taken  to  prevent  the  sowing  of  their  seeds. 

Rumex  acetosella  L. 


SHEEP  S  SORREL,  SORREL. 

Seeds  (fruits)  acutely  oval,  three-angled,  with  equal  faces,  1-1$  mm.  long;  repre- 
sented in  commercial  seed  by  the  seed-like  akene  only  or  by  the  akene  covered  by 
the  thin,  closely  fitting  perianth  segments,  which  are  six  in  number,  three  broad 
ones  covering   the  sides  of    the 
akene  and  three  small  ones  cover- 
ing the  angles  at  the  base;  covered 
by    the   perianth,    the   seeds   are 
finely  roughened,   dull,  and  red- 
dish brown;  venation  of  the  three 
broad    segments    evident;    small 
segments  at  the  basal  angles  often 
broken  away;  akenes  but  slightly 

smaller  than  when  covered  by  the  perianth,  bluntly  three-angled;  surface  smooth, 
somewhat  polished,  reddish  brown  or  wine  colored,  often  semitranslucent;  angles 
dark  at   the  apex;    internal   structure   essentially  the   same  as  in  Rumex  crispus. 

( Fig-  29. ) 

<  )ne  of  the  commonest  impurities  in  commercial 
seed,  found  "in  all  seed  of  the  cultivated  bluegrasses. 


a 
e 

Fig.  29.  — Seeds  of  sorrel  (Rumex  acetosella):  a,  b,  and  c, 
seed  enveloped  by  the  perianth;  </,  seed  with  perianth 
removed;  e,  natural  size  of  seeds. 


d 


Veronica  arvensis  L. 


CORN    SPEEDWELL. 


Seeds  j-f  mm.  long,  flattened  and  thin,  more  or 

Fig.  30.— Seeds  of  corn  speedwell     less  regularly  oval,  plane  or  sometimes  curved  face- 

(  Veronica  arvensis):  oandft,  front     wise;  center  of  the  inner  face  marked  by  the  relatively 

views;  c,  back  view,  d,  natural     large,  raised  ehala/.a,  which  is  united   by  a  narrow 

siz<s  of  seeds  ri(]^  ({]^  raph(j)    to  thf)  S(.ar  Qn   the  edge  of  the 

smaller  extremity  of  the  seed;  external  face  slightly  ridged  longitudinally,  indicat- 
ing the  position  of  the  embryo,  which  is  surrounded  by  the  endosperm;  surface  dull, 
finely  roughened  by  somewhat  radially-disposed  ridges,  and  reddish  yellow.  (Fig. 
30.) 


WEED    SEEDS    FOUND    WITH     BLUEGRASS    SKEDS. 


37 


Found  in  bluegrass  seed  of  various  Bpeeies,  especially  conimon  in  seed  of  Kentucky 
bluegrass.  The  relatively  prominenl  chalaza  and  the  radially  uneven  surface  dis- 
tinguish them  frona  the  Beed  of  the  closely  allied  Veronica 
peregrina,  which  sometimes  occurs  in  commercial  seed 


Juncus  tenuis   Wil 


-ii  \  mi;    kism. 


b  vv 


Kn..  31.     Seeds  of  slender  rush 
./'//"  eds  en 

larged     h,    natural    size    of 


Seeds  very  minute,  aboul  .'  nun.  long,  broadly  spindle- 
shaped,  the  extremities  usually  slightly  curved;  surface 
as  -'-'ii  under  a    lens)    nearly  smooth;   color   reddish 

yellow,  darker  al  the  extremities,  which  someti s  beai 

a  small  \\  bite  tissue.       Fig.  31. 1 

•  (ften  quite  abundanl  in  poorly  cleaned  Kentucky  bluegrass  Beed,  sometimes  cling- 
ing in  bunches  of  ee\  era!  seeds  each. 

Juncoides  campestre     I..     Kuntze. 

IIICI.I)    HIMI. 

Seeds  i,  I  nun.  long,  oval,  not  flattened,  the  ex- 
tremities unequally  pointed,  the  basal  extremity  turned 
slightly  to  one  side  and  consisting  of  soft  white  or 
yellowish  tissue;  a  narrow  and  often  indistinctly  de- 
fined whitish  ridge  extends  fn  mi  the  base  to  the  apex; 
body  of  the  seed  wine-colored  and  semitranslucenl  or 
•_'iavi>h.      i  Fig.  32 

Found   frequently   in   the  seed   of   wood   meadow 
^r&ss  ami  of  the  Poa  sudelica  of  European  origin. 

Juncoides  albida  IK' 


Fig.  82.— Seeds  of  Beld  rush 
coidet    campextre):    ",   different 
\  leu  v  t>,  natural  si/'-  of  Beeds 


\\<H)|I     RUSI 


Seeds  l  l|  mm.  long,  narrowly  oval,  not  flattened;  I 
suit  tissue;  apex  more  acutely  pointed  than  the  base; 
a  distinct  brown  or  reddish  brown  ridge  joins  the  base 
and  apex;  1">,1\  of  the  Beed  reddish  brown  or  wine- 
colored,  often  semitranslucent.     (Fig.  33. 

Found  in  various  species  of  European-grown  blue- 
grass  see. I.  The  usually  smaller  size,  absence  of  the 
basal  appendage,  and  more  distinct  and  constanl  red- 
dish-brown lateral    ridge  serve   to  distinguish   these 

from  the  seeds  of  .fiincniilt  s  rmn/irntre. 

Carex  cephalophora  Muhl 


lase  without  an  appendage  of 


h 


Pig.  33.— Seeds  of  wood  rush 
coides  albid  ■  rent  \  iews; 

h,  natural  si/r  of  seeds. 


0\   M  -III    IDEO    -I  I"    I 

Seeds  (akenes)  Lj  2  mm.  long,  lens-shaped  and  broadly  ovate,  contracted  at  the 
base  and  tipped  al  the  apes  by  a  conical  appendage  the  base  of  the  style  ;  surface 
smooth  and  dull;  color  varying  from  lighl  to  .lark  brown;  apical  appendage  often 
broken  away  in  seeds  found  in  commercial  samples;  perigynium  broadly  ovate- 
lanceolate,  plano-convex,  the  tapering  extremity  usually  rough-edged  and  notched  at 


38 


THE    SEEDS    OF    THE    BLUEGRASSES. 


the  apex;  surface  sometimes  slightly  grooved  or  ridged  lengthwise,  otherwise  smooth; 

color  varying  from  light  brown  to  greenish  or  dark  brown.     (Fig.  '.'A.) 

Seeds  of  sedge  (Carex)  are  found  in 
both  American  and  European bluegrass 
seed.  Owing  to  the  wide  area  of  their 
production,  the  seeds  of  various  species 
of  Carex  occur  in  commercial  blue- 
grass  seed.  The  seeds  of  Carex  are 
fruits  (akeues)  and  occur  free  or  in- 
closed within  a  sac-like  covering  (the 

perigynium).      Carex   cephalophora   is 
Fig.  34. — Seeds  of  sedge  ( Carex  cephaiophora) :  a,  seeds     .1  ,      .•         ,   • 

,      .  .     .,  1      *  the  species  most  commonly  found  m 

inclosed   by   the  iierigymuin;  h  0 ti.l   r,  seeds  with        .         ' 

perigynium  removed;  <l,  natural  size  of  seeds.  Kentucky  Dluegrass  seed. 


ERGOT  OCCASIONALLY  FOUND  IN  COMMERCIAL 
BLUEGRASS  SEED. 

Claviceps  purpurea  (Fr. )  Tul. 


^**fe 


This  is  a  fungus  growth  affecting  the  grain  (caryopsis)  of 
many  grasses.  It  is  very  common  in  the  seed  of  redtop  and 
other  species  of  Agrostis,  and  occasionally  occurs  in  bluegrass 
seed.  The  grain  of  the  seed  becomes  elongated,  extending 
beyond  the  glume  and  palea,  attains  about  twice  the  length  of 
the  glume,  and  is  club-shaped,  straight,  or,  more  commonly, 
somewhat  curved.  It  is  black,  dull,  and  somewhat  grooved 
lengthwise.     (Fig.  35.) 


a 

Fig.  35.— Ergot  (Clavi- 
ceps purpurea  I  of  Ken- 
tucky bluegrass:  a, en- 
larged; b,  natural  size. 


o 


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